KhaoYai

If he's serious he needs to get upcountry and do a few DNA tests. This problem isn't just confined to people paying for sex with underage girls - there are areas where incest involving young kids is rife and has been for years. The locals all know about it but its swept under the carpet which in my view is tantamount to accepting it. I clearly have no idea of the numbers involved but I suspect its far bigger than the 'paid for' trade,

Is that so? Well perhaps Mr Ratchakitprakarn can tell me why nobody even tried to contact me when I failed to upload the results of my second PCR test on my last visit? As I reported in another thread, the MorChana App would not work correctly. It informed me I had notifications but when I went to them, there was nothing there. I tried countless times and eventually gave up. I presumed that as the authorities had my phone number and the address where I was staying, someone would contact me to find out why I hadn't uploaded my PCR test results - at which point they would hopefully be able to give me an alternative way of reporting. I half expected the police to turn up at my door - nothing. I also thought I might be called out at immigration when I left - nothing. So, as for their ability to trace tourists - they don't use it, its simply a box ticking excercise, created for political reasons rather than protecting public health. I eventually managed to upload my (negative) test results when I returned to the UK and the App started working. Another thing with the Morchana App - I don't know if others had this problem: It kept on telling me to complete my passport details - the number was missing. Each time I tried, it wouldn't accept it - again, I gave up. Do any Thai Apps work?

Been into music all of my life and never had any particularly favourite Genre - depends on my mood. From Tamla to Dire Straits, Amy Winehouse to Pink Floyd, Barber's Adagio For Strings (soundtrack for the movie Platoon) to up to date stuff by Michael Kiwanuka or Joy Crookes. I admire most talented 'real musicians' and have no time for manufactured pop groups or boy bands that can't even blow a whistle. But there are two types of music I really cannot stand. Heavy Metal and Hip Hop - (and the Puffa Jacket lifestyle that goes with it) If the latter is the type you are referring to, you have my sympathy. If you're in Bangkok, tune in to Smooth 93.

Are you sure its at their discretion and not just something they take upon themselves?

If you are using piles, that's a whole different ball game but well done piles can be better than a raft. However, the worrying part of your post is saying that the piles will be limited to the capability of the drilling company. Although I'm sure a professional driiling outfit will have access to the geological survey maps and therefore, know the likely depth they will need to go to - there is absolutely no point at all in using piles at all if they don't reach solid a substrate.

Walls crack for a variety of reasons - poor foundations being the main reason for major cracks. However, cracks are also caused other things such as; settlement, using materials that dry at different speeds, heat up and cool down at different rates, vibration, even traffic. I guarantee you that a run of the mill crack (other than foundational) that appears in an internal concrete wall is far easier to permanently repair than a crack in a drywall system - they regularly re-appear. But you have brought up an important subject - foundations. Most Thai builders are very good at building foundations but unless you can find decent clay (rare in Thailand), you will always run the risk of subsidence and cracking. It doesn't matter how substantial your foundations are, if they are all individual pads, serving one concrete post each, there is a substantial risk of settlement differential. All foundations shrink and settle but individual pads may not do so at the same rate and when those rates differ, you will get cracking - concrete blocks are not flexible. Individual pads are also susceptible to movement caused by major changes in weather patterns (think climate change). Personally, if I was building a new house in Thailand, I would build it on a concrete raft foundation rather than the individual pads that the majority of houses seem to be built on. The OP might want to take account of that in his plans.

You have misunderstood. I can't speak for the US but certainly in my area of the UK, luxury homes are in the main, built using traditional methods. Dry lining systems, stud walls etc. etc. are used in run of the mill housing projects and mid range developments.

Judging by the photos a friend sent me - it was very busy on Friday night.

No, I know why they do.

NO! I am a developer in the UK - I thought I made that clear.

And most major developers here also use drywall. However, there are the beginnings of a return to more traditional builds. 'There is a reason for that' - Yes, to increase profits. Take a look at luxury builds, see what system they use.

Can't be bothered, if you don't know now, you never will. Brick or stone external, 100mm insulated cavity 100 - 150mm concrete block internal. Obvioulsy that is designed for UK weather but I would still (and have) go for a variation of that in Thailand. I built 2 houses last year yes. Thai houses move a lot - even the block and render cracks. How much do you think a drywall will crack due to movement and how would you repair the frame if its a large crack?

Here we go. Why is there at least one like you on almost every thread. Post your advice to the OP by all means but don't start slagging off other people's comments - especially when one of those posters is a developer himself!

Really? They eat the board? Drywall systems are just cheap rubbish - designed to increase developer's profits. Long term they can be very problematic.

He is clearly seeking comments or he wouldn't have posted!

They do not. Mostly its those built by major deveopers. In the private sector, certainly in the UK, many smaller developers are returning to solid double walls. I've just built 2 and gone back to wet plaster, I won't even use dot & dab board.

A lot is made of drywall systems - I'm not a fan. They may be a bit cheaper to construct initially but I don't think the saving is worth the downside. Trying to fix things to them is difficult - sure you may know what you want to fix to them now and strengthen those areas but things change over the years - I guarantee that at some point you'll regret the decision. I bought a 2 year old house and during a complete re-plan and upgrade I built an internal wall using Q Con blocks. I used a quilted 25mm thick insulating material between the 2 walls. I installed good quaility, European profile double glazed windows and doors with low e glass. Clearly I was aiming at cooling the house at less cost but I also was simply carrying out a build that will last. Like you, I plan on installing solar power at some point. On the cooling side, I have achieved a reasonable reduction in temperature but its difficult to measure that for real at the moment - I have not insulated the ceiling yet as my next job is to replace the rubbish tin roof. I am sure that is the source of most of the internal heat and I would suggest you pay particular attention to the loft insulation. Generally, if there's one piece of advice I can offer its BE THERE when the build is taking place. I could write a book on the hassle I had through not being there but its long and boring - just one example: My UPVC doors and windows are high quality and have an anthracite grey textured finish. They come from the factory fitted with a protective film. The idiots peeled off the film and then screeded the walls - cement all over the window frames. I am slowly getting it off but the finish is ruined in places. I think I may have to have to paint them sometime in the future as it drives me nuts seeing them as the are - which defeats one of the objectives of using UPVC. I spent a lot of money on the doors and windows because I believe in only doing a job once. Be absolutely clear on what you want and how you want it - employ a translater if necessary but I repeat, BE THERE.

Some say they do but I've seen several reports that its up to local officials. I'm yet to see anything definitive on that and I wouldn't rely on it happening.

If you are refering to the Thai policies, you must have missed last week's news - they no longer have to provide cover for asymptomatic cases or very mild infections, There is a set criteria that has to be met before they are required to provide cover. Very few foreign insurers provide such cover.

Remember they need someone to blame.

I doubt the second test is of any use in preventing the rise of the Omicron variant in Thailand but the main problem for me is not the test, its having to check back in to a hotel again. I just can't get my head around the point of that.

Your source?

I suspect that the cost would be prohibitive as due to the flow required for a shower, it would need to be quite a large unit. That is probably why my filter doesn't seem to have done much good at all. I'm reading that Reverse Osmosis systems remove 95-98% of calcium but again, I suspect size/cost is going to be an issue. The pump that got clogged up with calcium is very easy to remove and clean - I suspect that whatever system I went for, there would be maintenance of some form? Could be better to just clean the pump periodically but first I'll speak to the Air Source Heat Pump manufacturers to find out if there are any other parts that might give problems due to calcium. I'd love to eradicate/substantially reduce it but not at any cost.

Officially you should have a Non O, Non. B etc visa or an extension - you should be living in Thailand. I know some offices allow other routes but I believe that's the rule. I've registered 2 vehicles in my name using a 12 month Multi Entry Non O. I'm guessing the local DLT have no idea what that visa is but anyway, I had no problems with it.

Can anyone recommend a decent calcuim filter - the dreaded calcium is causing real damage, not just stains. I invested in an Air Source Heat Pump (ASHP) a couple of years back to provide hot water at my house. I knew that calcium might cause some problems so I fitted what I thought was a decent filter. Due to Covid, I've hardly been in Thailand since fitting the machine so its not had much use but last year it broke down. When I visited in December I discovered that the problem was with a water pump inside the ASHP, calcium had jammed the impeller which in turn caused an internal pressure switch to trip out. I've fitted a new pump but if I don't do something about the calcium, it will no doubt happen again. I would add though that I think the fact that the machine hasn't been getting much use didn't help matters. When I chose the filter that I fitted, I thought it would be OK - clearly its not up to the job, I looked at some systems but they all seemed to be aimed at cleaning the water up enough to provide drinking water - I can't remember how much they were but I do remember they were bloody expensive! I'm not looking to provide water of drinkable quality, I just want to protect my ASHP. I know that most filters, if not all, will require maintenance. Do they have to cost the earth?