Donnythecat

Sending them to the US. I've mailed some before with no problem, they usually sell them at tourist places so I think it's pretty frequent that people travel with them. To my knowledge they're not endangered species or anything like that.

Hey, I'm looking to get some taxidermied and mounted bugs (specifically stick/leaf insects of the genus phasmatodea) as gifts for friends back home. I know they used to be sold at the night market in CM but I'm not sure if that's still the case during covid? Anyone know of where to get these things outside of night market hours? Looked on Lazada and Shopee but there wasn't much selection, really expensive as well. Any tips would be much appreciated, thanks! 

On 10/25/2017 at 9:31 AM, jollyhangmon said:

Marked 2 spots for electronics recycle/repair shops i know of on following screenshot of the map.

First one in the center almost directly opposite the department store, little closer to busstation (just some 50 meters from it), the other one maybe half klick off superhighway on 1202 (= direction PaDet), not sure if it's on corner soi 20 exactly but it's sure at a corner and left side if outbound ...

 

Thanks Jollyhangmon, the map is super helpful! I will definitely scope out these two places in the coming weeks. Much appreciated!

On 10/24/2017 at 4:11 PM, sceadugenga said:

OK, come out of town on route 1211, the old Chiang Mai road, and when you see the 19km post on your right, you'll see the recycle yard on your left a little further down just past the turn off to the local government offices on the hill.

There's a gravel yard/building supplies on the right.

Thanks so much for this! Will definitely check it out soon.

Thanks for your responses sceadugenga and Crossy.

sceadugenga, where is down the road from you? So far I've been to one scrap yard but they only had old tvs. I think I might have more luck going to a repair shop and seeing what's around. 

Thanks for your responses 55Jay and Crossy.

I'm putting together an art work and I want the dead monitor to use as a picture frame basically, so really I just need the casing/housing of the monitor which I will mount a drawing in - so no problem if it's been gutted for parts. I'm pairing this 'picture frame monitor' with a functioning monitor that will be playing a video.  They're meant to be displayed side by side and must be identical monitors, aside from the working/non-working aspect. 

Crossy, do you know of a mom and pop TV repair store in Phayao I could go check out? 

Apologies for the strange query - I'm looking to buy a newish model of a nonfunctioning flat screen TV monitor (~25" screen) for cheap. I also need to buy an identical version of the nonfunctioning monitor that functions properly. It seems unlikely I'll find both at the same place, so i'll probably need to buy the working monitor from a proper store - hence why the nonfunctioning one needs to be a model that is still readily available on the market. Does anyone have any leads on a used electronics store in Phayao that might carry something like this? Thanks in advance!

Thanks for your response ripstanley, I appreciate it. What a bummer! I guess there are just not that many options around here. Good to know in any case, thanks again

Does anyone know of any cab service, car service, Uber, Grab etc that exists in Phayao? I haven't seen Uber or Grab here nor have I seen taxi's. 

I imagine it's possible to go to the bus station and hire a samlor or songthaew for the day but if I need someone in a pinch, say for example if I've had a few too many at the pub or I need an early morning ride to the airport with my luggage, does anyone know of any numbers to call? 

Thanks in advance!

Thanks all! Appreciate it. 

Hello friends,

I'm getting closer to the end of my 30 day visa-exempt stay in the Kingdom and will need to apply for the 30 day extension this weekend. Is there anywhere to do this in Phayao or Chiang Rai? Or do I have to travel to Promenade in CM to get this taken care of? 

I'm also concerned that getting the 30 day extension will end up being an all day affair and am grateful for any tips on how to get through quickly and smoothly. If I leave Phayao Friday morning for CM, is noon too late to start the process? Thanks so much in advance!

Thanks for the tips everyone, especially Randy T for your thorough and thoughtful response. I suspect I will be back in the future for more advice, or if folks are interested I can post pics of the progress here, will likely get started next week. Cheers ya'll

Just some more information, I was looking into trying winged beans, long beans, various eggplants, luffa, chilis....

I also brought seeds from the USA but not sure if they'll fly here....darkstar zucchini, arugula, butternut squash, and beets. 

Hello all,

I've just rented a small house in Northern Thailand and for the first time in a long time, I have access to a beautiful yard full of potential. I'm very excited at the prospect of growing delicious healthy food for myself and friends, but basically I have no idea what I'm doing. I'm hoping that those here with some experience might share a few tips on starting out - preliminary steps to lay the proper groundwork, common mistakes one makes early on, insights into maintenance of the garden in this climate - whatever you care to offer would be appreciated! 

The yard is roughly 20 meters squared, there are a few teak and fruit trees scattered about, weeds everywhere, don't know about the soil quality but the yard is in general disrepair. The parameters of the yard are delineated by fences and they, along with the trees and the house itself, offer some shade from an otherwise exposed plot.

I am soliciting any advice regarding

1) how I should prepare the soil/beds for growing by seed,

2) considerations to keep in mind as I lay out the garden,

3) suggestions for what vegetables or fruits do well in Northern Thailand this time of year, 400 m above sea level,

4) where those vegetables or fruits should be oriented within the layout of the garden, etc...

5) anything I didn't ask about but should have

I'm also interested in raising some black thai chickens but maybe that's another thread...

Many thanks in advance!

Thanks again to everyone for their input. 

Yes, the LA consulate is great, got my METV there last year in one day with no issues at all. The problem is I am now on the east coast near Washington DC, and the consulate there I've called everyday since I've been back to no avail - on their website it says need 3-5 days to process if applying in person with no expediting options, and I fly out in two days. The reason I didn't get a visa in advance is because the school initially assured me it would be fine to come on the 30 day VE while they sorted my paperwork for the work permit, but then last week they told me it might take longer than that. 

Has anyone ever shown up at the airline counter with a bus ticket as onward travel and had it accepted? I'm thinking I might just purchase a green bus ticket to chiang khong as proof of onward travel to Laos, then just trash it. I imagine lots of folks touring SE asia want to play it by ear and not purchase all their various transportation tickets in advance,  with the exception of flights in/out of BKK because it's such a hub - does anyone think that is a legitimate enough excuse for the airlines? 

Ok, thanks to everyone for all their input, all very useful information. It's a lot to wrap my head around, but it seems I will need to 1) secure a proof of ticket out of the country before I arrive, 2) get all my paperwork with the school taken care of, then 3) leave the country and then return on a non-B visa. 

Thanks again to everyone for taking the time to comment, and also to rhodie for the link to the teaching website! Much appreciated

1 minute ago, impulse said:

 

In the OP's situation, I'd be more interested in getting testimonials from current employees of the same school/agency to make sure they are on the up and up, and that they will be paying on time and according to agreed rates and terms.  Also, that his proposed employer will, in fact, do all the WP paperwork.  It's not uncommon for schools/agencies to renege in such details, making life in the Kingdom nerve racking and short.  And it's not specific to Thailand.  I have known dozens of teachers in China whose stay was cut short when they figured out they were getting hosed.

 

OTOH, lots of people find teaching in Asia to be a rewarding adventure.  Just make sure you know who and what you're dealing with.

 

Thanks, yes I have verbal confirmation of start dates, payment, WP paperwork being handled for me, etc. I've already had to submit various documents, passport, etc and signed a contract in Thai that I admittedly understood little of, but again, I have faith in the institution to hold true to their word, and one of my Thai friends is currently a professor there. I was invited to give a lecture there last year as a sort of audition for the job, and I had some of the same red flags before I did it (who is organizing this? who do I direct questions to? when do i get paid?) but in the end  those concerns were unfounded. Everything went smoothly, they paid me, then they took me out and we got day drunk over lunch time. 

4 minutes ago, ubonjoe said:

The Thai embassy is in Kuala Lumpur. The consular section of an embassy issues visas.

KL is not normally recommended for getting any visa recent reports are that they have gotten friendlier.

Thanks for the update. So in your opinion, since recent reports say they're friendlier, do you think it may be possible to get a visa relatively easily in KL now? I'm asking because tickets to KL are half the price to Penang on AirAsia, although I've never been to Penang and KL might be pricier to stay a couple nights in...

7 minutes ago, ftpjtm said:

If you're going to be anywhere near Boston, we have a really great Thai Consulate here, which has issued Visas same day for me (appointment needed though). 

Thanks, yeah not close enough to make it worth it unfortunately! I'll keep that in mind for the future though.

20 minutes ago, JackThompson said:

By not the same as the West, yes, the school may set you up for arrest and deportation and not care.  If you teach here illegally, that is breaking the rules.  Ideally, there would some sort of "temporary work permit" system to try out new hires, but this does not exist. 

While the likelihood of being caught is not high - depending if a 'crackdown' occurs during your stint and that school's "connections" with enforcement agencies  - I wouldn't want to be one of those who experience the brunt of it. 

Thanks for your concern, yeah I understand there is a risk and I hope I'm not there for a crackdown either. Who knows, I don't think I'll receive any payment until October (when the work visa should be settled) so maybe there's an argument that I'm not technically working anyways. 

27 minutes ago, Familyaffairs said:

You mean showing up at the Thai consulate, since the US consulate does not issue Thai visas. Its easy, pay an agent to go to the consulate express fee applies for next day visa, otherwise if memory serves well it takes 2 days. Georgetown is a pleasure to explore,mand great food.

Thanks, yes someone just corrected me that it is the Thai and not US consulate I would be going to. Ok, well sounds like it's not a bad option to head to Penang. There's no consulate in Kuala Lumpur that you know of is there? 

Thanks again for the responses. 

Rc2702, unfortunately there's no teacher forum, I'll be the only foreigner in the department. Also, I have very little faith in the university bailing me out before the 30 days is up. From what I've seen thus far they're a bureaucratic mess and I'm a bit concerned 60 days might not even cut it - that's why I don't think the flat 30 day extension is enough. I'm just wondering if there isn't somewhere else I could go, Laos perhaps, to get a visa. The more I think about it, the more I think your suggestion to fly to Malaysia is the way to go. Would you happen to know if there is any way to get this taken care of in KL? 

lkv, I live in CA but am currently on the east coast visiting family. The DC consulate is where I was going to go but it seems they earned a reputation as the shittiest Thai consulate in the states and the turn around is 3-5 days when applying in person, much longer via mail. Not enough time for that unfortunately!

JackThompson, thanks for the advice, I don't take it as mean at all. I agree that there have been some red flags throughout this process but I am tempering those concerns with the understanding that they do not do things the same as we do them here in the West, and that's just the way it is. Ultimately I trust in the department and am aware they've been doing things like this for a couple years now, so really it's just a matter of getting in and not breaking any rules. 

Sorry, just seeing the exchange...err....30 days visa exempt I meant to say. 

Thanks Rc2702, I agree your advice is sound and much appreciated! Also thanks to others for clearing up the terminology for me so I don't screw up at immigration!

Thanks for all your input everyone. I guess now I'm considering my options and trying to figure out the most convenient, cheapest, and quickest way to do this. 

First, is it adequate (if asked at the airport/immigration/customs about my return flight in 2018) if I tell them I will take a car/bus/train out of Thailand before my 30 day visa-on-arrival is up and then return to Thailand just to fly out? Or is having a ticket out of the country within the 30 days to show them absolutely necessary? 

Then, if the case is that I do NOT need to fly out of the country before my 30 days is up but can take other forms of transportation, is Penang the closest/cheapest/most convenient place I can go to get a 60 day visa, or is there somewhere else I could consider driving/flying to from Chiang Mai? I'm concerned that the trip to Malaysia may cut into my teaching obligations. 

Thanks so much for the feedback ya'll

Thanks for your response Rc2702. I you're right about not mentioning the work situation and just getting the flight out of there now to show them at the airport. I was also thinking of flying to Malaysia because of the cheap AirAsia flights to KL, but now that you mention the Penang/visa option, I think that makes more sense. Have you ever done that before by any chance? Do you know how long it takes to process this visa in Penang, do you think I could just show up at the US consulate with my application/etc and get it day-of?