Bananaman

I haven't even bothered to look for it yet but before I go to the effort of doing so, I wonder if anyone can tell me if they know where I can buy distilled water from in Chiang Mai.

I need it for making colloidal silver not for topping up the car battery but I guess any product designed for the latter purpose would be suitable.

Cheers

Ok so you gonna hate on the way I type, its called SLANG, but you wouldnt know anything about that chump....and the truth is we dont have to wait till NY dude, we can do this right here you and your Brothers in law, come on so I can spank yall...take it to the streets boy.....NY style.and I am about to PM you too....talk to you soon chump.

YOu feeelng froggy?? then leap!!!!!!!hahahahahahahahaha

Slang?

From the Cambridge English Dictionary:

slang (INFORMAL LANGUAGE)

noun

very informal language that is usually spoken rather than written, used especially by particular groups of people

Slang does not imply misspelling nor the absence of correct punctuation. All evidence suggests that this word "chump" that you like to bandy around so freely is a more appropriate reference to yourself than anyone else. University educated? Bought the certificate on Khao San Road did you?

Pontius Pilate: "Who shall I set free today Barabas or niller74?"

Chiang Mai TV Crowd: "Barabas!!!"

Pontius Pilate: "And what would you have me do with niller74?"

Chiang Mai TV Crowd: "Crucify him!!!"

Talk about a lynch mob, you guys should give old niller a break, he probably realises by now that he f*cked up big time in having his spoilt western brat-style tantrum but I echo the sentiment I made in an earlier post when I say, who hasn't allowed their ire to get the better of them when falling foul of bureaucracy or rule sticklers in this country?

You guys dishing out the "som num naas" and similar sentiments are a litte harsh. We've all fallen foul of jobsworths in this country and I dare say many of us have reacted in a fashion typical of our western standards and upbringing. So niller74 made a mistake and didn't attach the Wing 41 sticker to his window but this security guard could've quite easily just indicated that that was what was required or even peeled the backing off it and done it himself seeing as the passenger window was rolled down. As a foreigner, losing your rag is quite obviously the wrong thing to do in this situation but who can honestly put his/her hand up and say that he's/she's never seen red at the inability of Thai civil servants to think outside the box or exercise a little flexibility? All you posters with your holier-than-thou attitudes need to just remember that there is a lengthy period of adjustment for any expat in this country and during that period many of us make cultural faux pas.

Let he who is without sin cast the first stone.

Oats and blueberries are both crammed with antioxidants. The latter are expensive here but you can find them dried in some places and if you chuck a handful in a bowl of porridge (oatmeal) every morning, you can be pretty sure that you're getting a good dose of the anti-cancer agents.

Keep your eye on the drain holes in bathrooms, the blood-sucking blighters are smart and small enough to fly up them and use any available pools of water for breeding in. It's unlikely that the water in a bathroom is stagnant long enough for them to complete the reproduction process but it still attracts them unnecessarily to your house all the same. I was shutting the en-suite bathroom door of a morning and going in there later in the day with the electric bat and killing sometimes as many as a dozen of them and they were those huge stripey-bodied buggers that are said to be the most notorious dengue carriers. I've now taken to sticking a cup over the hole when the bathroom is not in use and it's keeping them out alright.

Heterocera cementica. Concrete-eating moths.

Ha Ha Ha....is that what I have to look forward to if too many of them get in the house?

If it hangs by a silk thread, it looks like case worm to me. Harmless creatures really...

These things have no threads attached to them. I have no doubt that they are harmless but their numbers are multiplying!

Apologies for the crappy picture it was the best I could manage. If you can't make it out then I'll tell you that these things are grey and flat and about a half-inch in length. Currently they are pretty much all over the house, they attach themselves to the wall (they especially like the crevice at which two walls meet) and just, well, do nothing really. At first I thought maybe they were a cocoon stage of something familiar but as of last night I actually witnessed one moving. It was an unusual sight, as something small that might've been a head protruded out of the top while it pulled itself slowly up the wall.

Anyone else got 'em? What the blinkin' hel_l are they?

If you like a good (and cheap) cup of coffee, I recommend a place called "PERFECT BLEND". It's on Changkhlan Rd, in the Soi opposite the Kasikorn Bank.

The guy selects and roasts his own coffee beans.

Enjoy

Thank's Sathip, will look them up when next in town. Take no notice of the P-taker, it has nothing better to do.

Do they sell beans there to take home?

I can confirm that they do and heartily recommend the Espresso roast - it's rich dark and chocolatey. I recently heard that the owner of the place just got the contract to supply the Shangri-La with coffee so he must be doing something right.

Well I ain't a newbie and I don't have any vested interest in promoting Perfect Blend but I will agree entirely with the OP's plug. I gave the place the thumbs up in a previous coffee thread and I'll do it again now. The owner makes a top-notch cup of the old black stuff (not Guinness ) and get this, it's only B25 a cup. No air-con, Wi-Fi or trendy ambience just dam_n good coffee. Unquestionably the best cup I've tasted in the city, for what my opinion is worth.

Not say anything. Just dismiss. After being sure you have your keys etc. And be a gentleman, pay for 2 or three weeks extra.

Why would I do that?

Pay them the legal 3 months salary for stealing my things? Interesting logic.

...as soon as you discover they steal from you, don't say anything, dismiss and pay. Give some excuse like, "we can do it ourselves from here".

For them no loss of face ?!

Valuable logic from "Fiscalist".

Especially his comment about saving face.

In Thailand, everything is about face, in some way or other.

Worthwhile to consider it carefully.

Why would you offer severence pay?

To protect yourself from ill-will among the locals, and to burnish your reputation as a man with good heart ("jai-dee").

Here in Thailand, far better to have many friends than one enemy.

To suddenly fire your staff, without pay, puts severe strain on them.

All their social network will come to their aid with food and loans of money, until they find new jobs.

Everyone will know the reason for the problem -- and that reason is you.

Plus, the next staff you hire will certainly know everything about you from the gossip.

Any comments from us Westerners about "theft is theft" ignore the strong, cultural trait, of sharing among Thais.

In addition, in Thai society, the rich person "takes care" of the poor within his extended family.

If you employ someone, they come within your extended family.

We have little concept of that in the West, but the Thais put high value on it.

When they take something -- as "DLock" described -- it is not a sin, just their way of letting you be generous to them, without bothering you by asking for every little thing.

Among my staff, I expect these sorts of things to happen, and I try to understand them, as they try to understand me.

They look to see what I value highly, and never touch those items.

For example, they would never, ever, take my computer, my mobile phone, or any CDs.

But they would, and have, remove something small from the kitchen, like taking home plastic food trays.

And, of course, they help themselves to any food within reach, and take plenty home for their own family and neighbors.

They will also take minor items of low value, if I have many, like socks.

Most times they return change from small purchases, but sometimes they don't.

It's all part of the package of living here.

There comes a point at which using the 'face' card and the cultural trait excuse just doesn't wash. Just because it's an inherent aspect of a country's culture, does not make it right (and just check the history books to see how since time began entire nations have been wrong about things). Stealing is stealing, period and as another poster pointed out it doesn't matter how small it is, it's the principle of the matter. That you let your staff steal socks and other small sundry items does not make you a generous benefactor wisely playing the rules of the complicated game that is Thai etiquette, but rather a push-over who your staff probably have a smile and wink about behind your back. So D-lock's staff will go running back to their community with their tails between their legs, crying unfair treatment and making him look like the big bad wolf in the situation. Well, if that's the case, so be it I'd say, as morality will never be allowed to gain the upper hand in a society that's afeared of doing the right thing lest it cause another to lose face.

Two people took things that were not theirs to take, you can dress it up all you like and use expressions such as "it's just their way of letting you be generous to them" and "It's all part of the package of living here", but that doesn't alter the fact that something both immoral and illegal transpired.

Without a video of her taking the money you really haven't proved anything. What you have proof of is that you put a certain amount of money in your pocket, but no evidence of who took it. She did confess but if you were to take this to court the video wouldn't prove much.

Well at the end of the day the video that was made proves zilch anyway because what's to say that the money was not removed from the pockets by the same person doing the filming, immediately after the camera was turned off?

The vid serves only to confirm the OP's suspicions for his own satisfaction, which I guess was its intention so it was successful from that perspective.

At the turn of the last Century, a Fitness Pioneer said, that every able - bodied man, should be able to -

Push his straightened body from the floor and back at least 50 times. ( press ups).

Lower himself between two parallel bars at least 25 times. (dips).

Pull himself up on an overhead bar until the bar is clear of his chin, at least 10 - 15 times. (pull ups).

Run at top speed.

Jump obstacles, equal to waist in height, with ease.

Swim a mile.

Carry another human being, of comparable size, piggy back fashion, over distance.

Now, these are minimum requirments. If you are able to complete the exercises above, for the specified count, in perfect form, then you should have no difficulty with most, if not all, physical challenges that life may throw at you.

Get this. In the modern world 95% of men, are so far gone, they can't even do 5 press ups, some not a single press up. An embarssment to Mothernature. I wouldn't want a guy like that in my corner if I needed help.

So Thaivisa guys, let's have it........................

Who exactly was this Fitness Pioneer you refer to? Name(s) and sources if you please.

I was there on Saturday and took a fairly large bag of cat food with me but when I saw how much they've now managed to accumulate, I couldn't help thinking that the money might've been better spent on something else.

I understand why Bananaman brought this up, but in my opinion, it is better for posters not to dissuade people from bringing packaged food when they visit the cats as it lasts forever and a short time ago eek and Knun Dii were struggling to keep them fed daily.

We hope that a lot of people remain interested in helping them, but it is better to not assume that they will always be this lucky.

Yep you're right Mr G, I hadn't really considered the bigger picture before making those comments. I'd suggest visitors keep on bringing the food and perhaps if anyone has any old blankets or floor mats or is inclined to buy new ones that they might also be appreciated. Maybe you could confirm with Khun Dii that these would be appropriate.

I was there on Saturday and took a fairly large bag of cat food with me but when I saw how much they've now managed to accumulate, I couldn't help thinking that the money might've been better spent on something else. What struck me is that that cats have nothing soft to sleep on and if you're a cat person, you know how much they love to curl up on beds, in wardrobes, on cushions and anything else with a bit of pile that presents itself. Perhaps anyone else going might consider buying a few of the regular foot mats (pa-ched-tow) that are ubiquitously available or even some of the blanket cloth that you can get for cheap on a roll at Kad Luang. Not sure if there would be any health issues related to such an idea, i.e. material harbouring germs or bacteria as it got dirty but I can't imagine it's any worse than them just sleeping on the floor.

Just my thoughts on the matter as it does seem like they've enough food stockpiled for a good six months now.

Thank you very much for your donation. Yes, they are reasonably supplied with food for the moment, but they get through 1-1½ kilos per day! I havent been at the Wat for a couple of days, but I imagine that they have enough for two months or so

At the moment we are concentrating on collecting enough money for vaccinations, sterilizations and further veterinary care. As I understand that solicitation is not allowed on ThaiVisa, I ask anybody interested in contributing to PM me for information on how to

/ Priceless

No thanks necessary, those little blighters were so cute that a half hour spent petting them was reward enough. You may not be able to solicit for donations on here but perhaps these heart-string pulling photos might encourage a little generosity from folk.

I was there on Saturday and took a fairly large bag of cat food with me but when I saw how much they've now managed to accumulate, I couldn't help thinking that the money might've been better spent on something else. What struck me is that that cats have nothing soft to sleep on and if you're a cat person, you know how much they love to curl up on beds, in wardrobes, on cushions and anything else with a bit of pile that presents itself. Perhaps anyone else going might consider buying a few of the regular foot mats (pa-ched-tow) that are ubiquitously available or even some of the blanket cloth that you can get for cheap on a roll at Kad Luang. Not sure if there would be any health issues related to such an idea, i.e. material harbouring germs or bacteria as it got dirty but I can't imagine it's any worse than them just sleeping on the floor.

Just my thoughts on the matter as it does seem like they've enough food stockpiled for a good six months now.

Hello !

I just found a nice one next to Chiang Mai Gate. They have food on display : usually 4 different kind of veggies and 2 to 4 kinds of the best mushrooms I have ever had ! You just ask for rice and point to what you want to eat with it. For rice + 2 choices, it's 20bts. They also have veggie sausages and other non-identified things I haven't tried yet.

It's on Phra Po Khlao Road, on the right side when coming from Chiang Mai Gate (about 150 m after it I guess). It's kind of yellow with written that it's a Chinese Vegetarian Restaurant. Almost in front of it is an Internet connection (10bt) and a VCD rental.

Cheers

That would be 'Tien Sieng' the Taiwanese-Thai veggie place and my favourite of all the veg restaurants serving "khao raad".

I've been to Thailand twice now, and have to say I love the place, but what puzzles me, is why do so many Farangs like wearing such revoltingly designed baggy shorts? Heaven only knows where, or why they buy them, aa I would have thought exposing the legs so that the Mozzies can chew them, plus it gives access to the 'meat and 2 veg' department which I would have thought is the last place anyone wants to get bitten!

It also seems that they are the preferred attire of those with a waist in excess of 46 inches, and waist/beer gut of even vaster proportions. I also get the impression that the object of the excercise is so that their spindly legs and knobbly knees are exposed so all the Thai women can 'Admire' them! Is this because of some kind of Fetish, the tropical alternative to wearing rubber?

It's certainly something that I feel shows 'us' lot up in a very unfavorable light.

If you've been here twice then you probably should've noticed that LOS has a tropical climate, i.e. one that leans a tad to the warm side. Guys who wear baggy shorts do so because it keeps them cool and strangely enough their priority is personal comfort as opposed to endeavouring to present an appearance that satisfies the eyes of narrow-minded fashion victims.

Can anyone explain what the score is with blind citizens in Thailand? I mean why are there so many of them with NO eyes at all? This is not something I've ever witnessed in the west. Are they removed when it becomes apparent that they are of no use to the individual? If that's the case, surely it's only adds to the social stigma that those with disabilities face in this country.

What's the dealio kids?

How is this related to Thailand in anyway, let alone to Chiang Mai? Come on Mods wake up!

Germany was the home of both Hitler and Einstein.

0/2 Must try harder.

Hitler was Austrian. Einstein was Swiss.

Well, with regards to Einstein, Wikipedia disagrees with you. He was first German, then Swiss, then a US citizen.

Irrespective of the nationalities of either character, Peace Blondie actually said that Germany was the home of both, which is entirely correct (even if for Einstein it was but a temporary one).

Anyways back to the topic at hand.....

The small air-conditioned room in Warm-Up used to play D&B on a Friday night. Dunno if they still do but why not head there anyway and find out. The worse that could happen is that they don't and you're forced to get drink a few cold ones, stare at hot ladies all night and make do with some crap Thai music

I keep killing these things in my house but more appear every night after dark. they look like a roaches only smaller (half inch to 1inch), slimmer and can fly, although they prefer to scuttle. they were a medium brow colour but have stated getting black ones with what looks like horns on their rear end. one flew at my leg earlier after i zapped his mate and it felt like it bit me, resulted in an itchy red patch for a few minutes but not like what a normal insect bit would do, no raising of the skin.

What can i do to get rid of them? I don't want to use strong chemicals as got a 3 month old baby in the house. We live on a moo baan out of town and keep the house clean so not a dirt problem. I think i saw an add for somthing about a fequenecy emmiter that keeps all insects away but can't really remmeber.

Any info would be much appreitiated

I'm getting the same things right now. The missus reckons that they are not roaches and are entirely harmless. I gotta say that they are considerably less offensive than roaches because they don't have the long antennae at the top of the head and they don't run half as fast. They do fly, however, that is true and they aren't especially wary of their surroundings, often launching themselves into anything in their ill-considered flight paths. My cat loves them and they provide hours of entertainment and a good source of protein for him, so maybe you need to get yourself a feline friend for the house!

Like Prakanong, I've dwelled on this subject for a good while. At urinals in the west you often hear a bloke let a hearty blast go - sometimes it's just unavoidable when you are trying to squeeze the last drops out and effectively using the same muscles. In LOS, however, I've never heard a botty cough from a Thai chappie taking a leak. How do they manage it? That's some unbelievable control I gotta say.

Better out than in in my book, even if you do risk offending the senses of someone close by!