wpcoe

Be careful before using the expanding foam around the roof tiles. Seal the inside walls is one thing, but don't block the natural ventilation for the attic. By the way the Tokay male does all the barking to establish territory. The snake may still be hunting it too.

There is no attic over the kitchen area. It's a kind of "lean-to" added on to the back of the townhouse. It's three concrete walls, plus the previous back wall, covered with roof tiles. Every arch of the roof tiles along the wall is just an open passageway to the outside. I want to fill all these in. There was also a section where the tiles had a horizontal gap between them and the top of the concrete wall, and I already have filled it in.

With my luck, I'll seal the roof with the snake inside the kitchen.

Seriously, though, am I deluding myself by thinking the snake really will have no incentive to return to the inside of the kitchen? (Until it rains, when it may simply seek dry refuge.) Other than the family of geckos in the hong nahm, there's no other food source that I know of. I mean, snakes have no fondness for being inside buildings per se, do they?

They are in the Chrysopelea family and are diurnal so they hunt during the day. Prey includes lizards, frogs, birds and bats. Occasionally the eat other snakes.

Later (after I go get some more expanding foam) I want to do some research on my new friend. I'm glad to hear they are diurnal. Just hope it doesn't decide to spend its sleeping hours within my four walls.

I'm quite curious to see if I hear the tokay this evening. It was so loud that I could clearly hear it in the upstairs bedroom at the opposite end of the townhouse.

Before I posted in General, I looked for an "animal" forum, and thought, hmmmm, is that snake a "pet"? Thanks for moving it to the appropriate forum.

Thanks for the tokay background. I had seen pics of them, and knew they were larger, but never realized they were the ones making the noise. May it R.I.P. Nature's food chain at work.

The sounds you heard previously were the geckos. Hard to hear them now from the inside of a snake.

Really? That was a *gecko*? It was SO loud and such a coarse sound. I thought geckos made more of a mono-syllabic "click, click, click" kind of sound?

Well, it was a very considerate gecko, anyway: it never left any sh*t on the walls inside! I don't mind geckos at all as long as their toilet habits don't festoon my indoor walls.

Well, even if I did have hedge clippers, I would prefer not to use them on a creature like this, unless somehow it became a real threat. Right now, I'm mainly creeped out, and every time I go in the kitchen, I wonder where s/he is.

I'm planning to get some more expanding foam to fill in more of the gaps between the roof and the wall, starting with the spot that had serpentine occupation this morning. The landlady conveniently painted the walls almost the same shade of yellow that the expanding foam matures into. In the lower left pic, on the right side you can see a blob of the foam in the arch of the roof panel.

Thanks for the reassurances. I think it *might* have gone up to that particular spot to dine. At night there is some creature -- I have NO idea what type it is -- that makes that two-tone cry like: "UH oh. UH oh. Uh oh." (I read once where it sounds more like "<deleted> you, <deleted> you, <deleted> you. )

Anyway, the particular spot where the snake was, is where that other creature did its serenading -- it was LOUD with an echo. If I no longer hear the "UH oh" tonight, then the snake might indeed truly be my friend.

I believe in live and let live, but I tend to draw the line at the perimeter of my house. Spiders and snakes are welcome OUTSIDE and I will do my best to avoid them, but INDOORS, is MY domain. I just want to keep it out where it belongs, and as I said, with rainy season coming, I don't want it to feel like it found a cozy place to escape.

My concern about it wanting to stay also involves the geckos that reside here, as well. Not very many, but there is a family of them above the suspended ceiling in the downstairs hong nahm, which is not far from the nook where the snake was this morning. Uh oh.

The colour of the head varies between the top pic and the others?

Different individuals?

Jeez. You're really playing to my paranoia, aren't you! No, it's the same gal/fella. Just taking photos from a safe distance with zoom lens on unsophisticated camera. If it's more than one serpent, they swapped places very quickly!

I just moved into a 20-year old townhouse near central Hua Hin. The kitchen is an add-on to the rear of the structure, and as such, has a roof that is nowhere close to being sealed. (In fact, the other day I just started spraying "Boom" expanding foam into some gaps through which I was viewing the clouds float by.)

This morning, just now, I happened to catch sight of a snake coming through a gap in the roof by the side wall. I think s/he looks like a non-venomous variety, based on other pics I've seen off and on, but really would like to hear from outside sources that it is NOT venomous.

Any ideas how to repel it? I'd obviously like to discourage it from entering. With rainy season coming, I don't want it to think it has a handy refuge available in my kitchen...

The rear wall is not readily accessible from the outside, but I will continue to try to seal the gaps at the top from the inside...

[edited to re-attach the photo...having problems having it show up as attachment, so adding outside link]

FYI & FWIW, there is a thread on another forum about this incident which has a different perspective of the event. Or, at least it certainly sounds like the same event. Not sure if it's against forum rules to link to the other site, so mods, please feel free to delete this link: <link deleted> if it is against the rules.

Here's an excerpt from the opening post describing the event:

One of the Harley riders was doing the usual 'park where I want..wot ya gonna do about it? stunt'..once parked his big bike was clearly in the way of anyone with 4 wheels trying to pass by.

A pick-up came and a lady got out and asked politely if the said bike could be moved..??

A hail of bad-ass abuse came from the biker, and he kicked over some of the small Hondas next to his bike!

I'm not taking sides, just pointing out there *might* be two sides to this story, perhaps with a bit of blame to spread around? <shrug>

[edited to add formatting (line spacing) to the quote]

???

I'm asking if it's safe to tap onto the ground wire from the water heater. Is your reply that I'd be risking a family member's life by doing so?

Sorry, but I'm not sure what you're trying to say.

If possible, I'd like to avoid making a 1" round hole in the tiled floor. If it's *not* possible, then I need to reconsider. I'd simply like some options.

What's your target price range?

Don't know what Rimpings is, but Hua Hin has a Villa Market, which carries similar goods as a Tops.

Also, the grocery store on the ground floor of the Hua Hin Shopping Mall (on Phetkasem a block from the road to the train station) carries a wide variety of western foodstuffs and goods. (It's the same shopping mall with the new I.T. center on the third floor.)

From OP:

Some added info: TRUE (tesco) had a card but would not sell me a monthly package because I am just on a Tourist Visa. Didn't matter cause 3G is not where I am to live.

Really? I get solid, fast (usually around 2Mbps) True 3G service all around Jomtien and Pattaya with my iPhone4. Or, are you not planning to stay in Jomtien long-term?

Now *that* makes more sense: 1" diameter, not 1" deep.

News flash. I think the water pump on the other side of the "driveway" is grounded. If it is, can I clamp on a ground wire from my dryer to that wire? Or, is that again somehow playing with fire?

Here's a pic of what I'm assuming is a ground wire. The white-sheathed copper wire looped (loosely...) around the screw, no? I was impressed to see they actually used a "wire nut" for the wires appearing above that in the pic. (Of course, for good measure, they taped it, as well.)

ISTR some complexity in the logistics of getting the medical form notarized, as well. (Either the Chicago consulate and/or the D.C. embassy required the medical form and police report to be notarized.) It can be tricky to have a notary witness the doctor's signature unless the notary works in the office/clinic.

That may be a misuse of the term as Thailand often wants the person concerned to sign forms submitted and can use the term notarize (there is no such service in Thailand) for just a simple signature. If a notary stamp was required it would likely be to have that signature notarized (not the doctors).

For your interest, the requirements for the O-A visa can be viewed here: http://www.thaicongenvancouver.org/cms/index.php?option=content&task=view&id=121#OA

As you can see on the list, there are only 2 forms which will need your signature notorized: the 'Personal Data' Form, and the three copies of the Application Form.

The Medical Form needs only to be stamped by your doctor (make sure you ask him to do this). The Criminal Record form will be stamped by your local cops as a matter of course.

Methinks the Consulate in Chicago has other ideas: http://www.thaiconsulatechicago.org/clate/non-imm.html

"VII. Retirement in Thailand (see also Retirement Visas), the applicant must be at least 50 years old and must submit documents as follows:

• documentation showing proof of retirement
  
• bank statement or monthly/year income.
  
• a copy of the applicant’s criminal record from the local police department
  
• a certificate of health.
  

These documents must be certified by a Notary Public and certify true signature of the notary public by the Secretary of State."

Thanks for the feedback. So, I take it the drain is a no no?

How thick do you suppose the concrete is beneath the tile, in case I decide to drill through it? If I drill only "about 1 inch through [the] tile-covered concrete slab floor," that wouldn't be deep enough would it?

I read through the linked thread and noticed references to rebar and metal roof beams as possible alternatives for grounding. What about the metal (iron) spikes attached to the low wall separating the townhouse front areas?

The two hot water heaters in the hong nahms both have ground wires leading into the ceiling areas. I need to borrow a ladder and poke my head up there to see where they lead ... if anywhere. Although no place else has three-prong outlets, the back addition that serves as the kitchen (it was added later to the structure) has three-prong outlets and I wonder if maybe they actually put a ground spike out back where it is exposed soil? Probably unlikely, but possible nonetheless?

Hey, 3BB was up to the challenge!

I went to local 3BB office and the rep there verified that her computer showed me with 3Mb/1Mb Premier plan. She said technician would call & visit to follow up.

About two hours later a 3BB truck pulls up (guess he forgot to call me ), and after a test with his meter inside my house, he left for about 20 minutes, returned, replaced the outlet box (what do you call the thing with the RJ11 jack?) and when the router rebooted:

I just rented a two-floor, 20-year old townhouse on a typical urban soi. Even though some upgrades were made to the electrics in the home (new consumer circuit breaker box,) as per usual, there is no earthing/grounding of any outlets.

I'm only test-renting the place for six months to see if I like living in the area, so I don't want to do major re-wiring to the place. However, I have an electric clothes dryer, which due to various logistics, is located on the ground floor out front in the parking area. There is an un-earthed electrical outlet out there.

I feel definite current leak via some of the metal surfaces of the dryer, especially the drum. I definitely would like to earth/ground the machine, but there is NO exposed soil in front of the place to easily impale a stake. My tile-covered concrete slab floor goes right out to the paved soi.

However, right in front my side wall in the street gutter is a metal framed drain cover. Would I be able to safely run a ground wire from my dryer to that frame and be grounded? Or, am I inviting more grief and problems by even attempting it? My plan would be to run a wire with a metal pincer clip to be able to attach/detach the ground wire, and use it only when needed.

Obviously, I'm not a sparky, and a little knowledge can be very dangerous, hence I'm asking you to be gentle with your replies.

1. A condominium can be any group of buildings, just as long as there are common areas etc. for use by all individual owners. Example, townhouses can be registered as a condominium development.

Interesting to know. I was told that though it's technically possible to classify townhouses as condominium, that in reality there are barriers from making it a reality. Do you know of any actual townhouse communities that are legally classified as condominium? And, if so, are there any ownership restrictions for farang other than 51% of the townhouses' area (sq m) must be Thai owned?

I definitely agree with inquiring with your home country embassy/consulate, and with your local doctor/clinic. I had a friend in Chicago, whose doctor just "rubber stamped" the form with no exam and no fee. I read a report (here, on ThaiVisa, I think?) from someone whose doctor felt legally (morally?) bound to administer the necessary tests to verify the absence of the maladies listed on the medical form, to the tune of hundreds of dollars.

ISTR some complexity in the logistics of getting the medical form notarized, as well. (Either the Chicago consulate and/or the D.C. embassy required the medical form and police report to be notarized.) It can be tricky to have a notary witness the doctor's signature unless the notary works in the office/clinic.

Today flew right by and I didn't get a chance to visit the 3BB office. Hopefully on Tues or Wed?

It's a Belkin "Play Max" WiFi ADSL Modem Router. Once the modem connects, there doesn't seem to be any disconnects, but it DOES take SEVERAL attempts to make a connection when I power on (or reset) the modem. The norm when I lived in Jomtien was the modem would connect on the first attempt.

Thanks for all the feedback. In the next day or two, I'll walk down to the local 3BB office and discuss this with them. On my only visit to that office so far, I found them to be pleasant and knowledgeable. Good to have the info about SNR.

Since this is a dedicated ADSL line, I'm not using any splitter or filter.

They ran a new cable from a pole about 100m down the street directly to, and then into, my place. The technician took a cash payment of B640, and if I understood correctly it was B320 to bring the line to my exterior wall, and another B320 to bring the line inside and install a RJ11 jack. Could have been bogus charges, since no receipt was issued and I was not advised of the charges by the office, but I figured, what the heck.

It looks like they may have (mis-)provisioned your line for 2 Mbps/512 Kbps?

That was my initial thought, as well. I still think it might be the case, but will see what they say. AFAIK, there is no current 2Mbps plan, but like my grandfathered 3MBps Premier, there might still be some sort of plan like that in their system.

I have a 3BB Premier 3Mbps/1Mbps package. When I lived in Jomtien (as recently has five days ago) my modem would report connect rates pretty close to 3072/1024. I just moved to Hua Hin and had the account transferred to my new home. I never show a connect above 2000/400, and wonder if it's a line problem, a setting at the 3BB office, or something else.

Below are the stats as reported by my router. Do the noise and attenuation seem within acceptable limits? I'm not sure what "Output power(dbm)" is, but is that figure okay?

I'm not sure how far I am from the DSLAM, but I'm about 100 meters from the main (Phetkasem) road, and only a five minute walk to the town center (the intersection with the road to the train station, if you are familiar with Hua Hin), so I don't think I should be too far from a DSLAM. The 3BB technician who ran the new line to my home spoke no English, and I can't explain what a DSLAM is in Thai. He did not recognize the written word "DSLAM".

If I get feedback that the noise/attenuation are okay, then I will contact 3BB to see if maybe they just have my account settings wrong in their computer configuration.

There is also a True counter in the Tesco Lotus store in S.Pattaya, on Sukhumvit.

You are easily pleased? i give it 6 months MAX, until they start a Hua Hin - Pattaya or Hua Hin-Phuket it aint gonna work

Did you know their route map does show service between Hua Hin and Pattaya as a future route? No indication of when, though.

It doesn't show Hua Hin to Phuket, however.