McTavish

2 hours ago, Greenside said:

For more than 15 years I have been living here with a non-imm 'O' visa with initially a retirement extension which I then changed to a marriage extension, mainly because I had better things to do with some of the money tied up in the bank.  The excellent online queuing system was great for the first  year or two but now it seems only available for Volunteer, Education, Business and Retirement.  I was wondering if I had the wrong link so went to Immigration last week and the I/O said that if there were no appointments left, my wife and I would have to do a walk-in. He then told me to scan the QR code on a large sign just on the right inside the entrance to check the situation and try to make an appoinment.  He clearly hadn't ever done this because there isn't a marriage extension option listed: 

  Since this  means a lot of waiting around outside in what might be seriously bad air and I can meet the cash on hand requirement, residence certificate etc.  I 'd like to change back to the simpler retirement extension as there still a couple of appointments showing.  Is this as simple as doing a renewal or are there some downsides or costs to take into consideration?  A while back there was talk of having to prove medical insurance - is that needed?

I changed back many years ago as it's so much simpler and with the online appointment system you can be in and out within an hour, depending on time of day.

Ensure you have all documents completed and CHECKED (outside Immi) at least 20 minutes ahead of appt. time.  Include a copy of your appointment confirmation email.

7 hours ago, JimG said:

My experience is that the smog is caused by farmers burning the leftovers from the crops.  It's always said that 'next year' it will be fixed. They never do.   Make it illegal and fine violators. Set up a collection system for the trash.  The gov't could even assist in the cost to the farmers.

Your experience is quite wrong.  80 to 90% of all fires in Chiang Mai province are NOT agricultural.  They are primarily grass and scrub (forest) fires.

Following 6 months of DRY HOT weather it's only natural that fires will occur, naturally, accidentally and on purpose by hill tribes who later harvest mushrooms.

Anyone from Australia knows only too well how a fire can get out of control real fast under such conditions. 

This annual phenomena is not new and exacerbated by terrain, wind (or lack thereof), and fires in adjoining provinces as well as Burma and Laos.

Best I've found and will return again and again - Suvarnabhumi Ville Airport Hotel

They have several shuttles for pick up and return available 24hrs.  Rooms are spacious and clean plus 24hr restaurant and adjacent mini-mart.  Inexpensive too!

49 minutes ago, jacko45k said:

Mine isn't. I could fry eggs on my West facing bedroom wall if it were not vertical! My bigger Daiken is churning away for ages to cool it down in there for bedtime!

Is there a way to shade the outside of the wall - trees, awning or lattice?   I installed a 4m x 2.4m UV 95% blockout awning outside a wall (10cm off) and it has made a huge difference.  Even a cheapie market/shop-style roll down awning will do.

4 hours ago, Startmeup said:

The bike was rented, they were not the owners of the bike so surely thats an issue for the bike rental company.
ive rented many bikes in Thailand and never once have I checked to see if it was registered. 

Which part of 'unlicensed' did you not understand? 

8 hours ago, webfact said:

Thailand's Ministry of Public Health has alerted the public to the perils of the ongoing heatwaves, following the death of 30 individuals from heatstroke this year. Health professionals are advising people to avoid direct sun exposure for long periods, particularly considering the increased COVID-19 risk for susceptible people.

 

The Government's gotta do something about this heat ... 😎  Fix this and PM2.5 goes away too 

People die every day due to many causes, pneumonia, heatstroke, cancer or the #57 bus - it's not altogether avoidable, almost normal, although what does  Covid has to do with heat?  Vitamin D from sun exposure is a preventative, no? 

1 hour ago, Dante99 said:

and it will start to go rancid within 12-24 months depending on how you store it and what quality it is

It's '24 production and I decant into 1L glass bottles for storage in a cool/dark pantry.  Never had a problem.

The main reason for supply shortages is Middle East troubles and shipping delays.  Airfreight is expensive and not warranted for many 'luxury' food imports although some gets through to Bangkok specialty importers and retailers.  The North gets little or nothing. 😞

Olive oil is in short supply anyway due to the past year of drought and disease in Euro growing regions.  Prices have sky-rocketed for this 'liquid gold' and I stocked up with 5L bottles of Extra Virgin @ 2600Bt at Makro Hang Dong recently.  Shortages will continue.

Euro cheese imports are very slow, NZ Mainland and Anchor product in stock at Makro and Rimping PLUS you can buy JARTISAN specialty cheeses at GoWholesale or Rimping.

Note: HoReCa cheese sold at Makro is garbage IMHO, buy Anchor large blocks of cheddar for most cooking purposes in preference.

24 minutes ago, transam said:

Oh, do shut up, why are you always trying to put people down with your guesswork..

You have a serious problem, today you have been buried with your lies about me, so give yourself a break, have a holiday, do something useful..........

Dont encourage trolls with a response old m8, ok na.

12 minutes ago, Korat Kiwi said:

Verdict: It's ok but not something I'd drink everyday. It's a 5% beer and doesnt feel like it would kick you in the arse at all. I'd probably drink this on special occasions. 

Spot on!

On 4/10/2024 at 12:06 PM, Lacessit said:

3 months or less in a hot climate.

12 weeks or less is about right for Thailand, depending on brew type, transportation and storage.  Safe limit is 6 weeks for a hoppy brew, borderline for bottled Archa, Asahi or Bud.

15 hours ago, Korat Kiwi said:

OK I'll give that a go.  I've tried many Tooheys of various types and Castlemaine XXXX but keen to try others. 

 

I must admit VB was a bit difficult to swallow but some people swear by it. 

 

Cheers for the heads up. 

Funny story about VB, which I never touched, 'orrible stuff.  A friend bought 6 cartons of VB cans in Cairns to take on a boat trip.  The stuff was well and truly off, tainted, obviously stored in a hot warehouse.  Arriving back in Cairns he was unable to return for refund and rather than dump it he gave away, one case at a time, to Aborigine vagrants living in the waterfront parkland.  He had to literally drop it at their feet and run as others would come chase him, expecting more.

10 hours ago, Liverpool Lou said:

1923?  Most unlikely considering it didn't exist until 1995.

Look up the meaning of sarcasm.

2 minutes ago, Korat Kiwi said:

I have been looking for this but not located it locally. 

 

I've tried the Dark and the Lager. 

 

May have to go into the city methinks.... 

The IPA is very good.

12 minutes ago, Korat Kiwi said:

What's your favourite drop in Oz?  I'm looking at heading to WA (Moxy driver) within the next month. 

One of my favourites from WA - https://littlecreatures.com.au/agegate/

3 minutes ago, transam said:

I thought it awful..........😬

Me too.

During the pandemic I noticed many food products on shelves were past their best-by-date (BBD), although none were as bad as bottled beer.  After all, most dry packaged products, even cheeses, are perfectly ok beyond the BBD.  Especially cheese, which was often discounted by up to 50%, win win! ☺️

Bottled beer however, goes off, becomes tainted, in about 6 to 8 weeks especially if it's transported and stored in high temperatures.  Ever since Covid I've checked beer freshness prior to purchase at various stores and the results are alarming.  Whilst my observations relate to Chiang Mai stores the same applies across the country to most stockists.

BigC, Makro, Tops, GoWholesale and Rimping all have beer in stock which is well past 6 weeks old.  I've bought Beer Laos by the bottle only to discard it before noticing each bottle is marked with a production date. 

The worst offenders are the major stockists holding many pallets of brew.  Singha has either the highest turnover or freshest supply and with a local brewery perhaps the latter.  I don't buy any beer unless it's within 4 weeks of production date as marked on the case.

GoWholesale takes 1st prize for the oldest beer stocks I've seen since the pandemic with Archa beer at 6 months old!  Some of the Chang stock was also 1923 vintage.   Hops and alcohol are natural preservatives but AFAIK, Archa has a low hops to rice ratio which would make it susceptible to spoiling much faster.

Will he leave on a Boeing or Airbus?   55

2 minutes ago, transam said:

That will be a huge insurance payout........😱

Payday coming for Baltimore lawyers?

IMO it was the bridges fault🤠