mrmillersr

The air pollution in Khon Kaen has been as bad or worse than Chiang mai so far this year.  In fact, Khon Kaen and surrounding areas such as Kalasin and Roi Et are where high levels of sugar cane and rice burning occur so you are going to get high PM 2.5 levels which of course, is not good.  The big question is how long the bad air persist and the only way to know that is to watch the PM 2.5 levels at the monitoring station.  Unfortunately, for other areas like Kalasin and Roi Et there is no data available.

People, if you want to be perfectly honest, if you live in Thailand you somehow made a wrong turn in the road.  What in the world does this place offer?  Lousy climate, crazy locals you can't trust or really communicate with, BS immigration laws, etc etc etc. 

I'm getting ready to get out for good after 15 years and won't miss a minute of it.  Thailand to me is the most overrated country in the world for expats.  If you're here you need to rethink it.  Other than being a cheap place to live, there is nothing else of value and there are cheaper places that offer more.  Just do a little research and you will see the options of which there are many.  My best day will be when I board the plane for the last time on the way out of here. 

You people living in CM are the proverbial frogs sitting in a pot of soon to be boiling water.  With any common sense you know this pollution you are experiencing is going to damage your health. 

Some say it will have no affect (deniers) others say they have no other option (really?) and others actually may get away for the time the pollution is at unhealthy levels to somewhere better.

Bottom line is this problem is not going away.  Make CM your home and this is what you will deal with on an annual level.  I really hope people can realize how serious this is and make an educated decision before moving to CM or if they are already here, if this is where they should stay.  I have nothing to gain by making this post other than helping someone to make the right decision for the health of everyone they care for.

32 minutes ago, Yellowtail said:

 

So how will worrying about it benefit you?

 

As I understand it, stress is a major killer as well.

Hey, no one ever said worrying about it would be a benefit so I don't know where you came up with that one.  But you're probably right that a lot of people get stressed out when they know they are inhaling toxic air that can cause serious health problems. 

Add the stress to the already unhealthy situation and you've just made one more argument why people should get out of CM while they can.  Thanks for inadvertently reinforcing my position.

On 12/27/2018 at 10:50 AM, grin said:

Last week I saw the best PM 2.5 readings I've ever seen here. Two days in a row my monitor was reading from 8 to 10 both mornings.

Time to recheck the readings. https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1081540-smog-crisis-bangkok-9th-worst-in-world-but-chiang-mai-not-far-behind/

22 minutes ago, Trujillo said:

 

"Retirement extension and re-entry done today, took 2 hours Condo to Condo."

 

What time did you arrive? 

took me 15 minutes but then again  I don't live in Chiang Mai

12 hours ago, HuskerDo said:

Hatred, bitterness, negativity.... call it what you will but you have it Mike. You lived here too long you say. Whose fault was that? If you hated it so much why did you stay so long? Seems like there is another part to your story that you aren't sharing.

 

The three things you mention I see as non-issues. The air is fine except during burning season. During that time a person can fly elsewhere for a couple of months. When in town during that time simply get a mask to wear. Many people do that in burning season. Also, get an air filtering system for your home/rental. Easy stuff. Even take an annual trip to their native country. Congested traffic? Really? Tell me a city that doesn't have that. If you live somewhere where you can walk to most of the places you frequent on a regular basis guess what? NO TRAFFIC CONGESTION! ???? 

 

I don't see the visa thing as an issue. Put the 800,000 in the bank and you are set. It takes less than a day to get thru the annual renewal thus you have 364 days to have fun other than the 90 day reporting and that can be done online or via mail. easy stuff.

12 hours ago, HuskerDo said:

 

At any rate I hope you are happy where you are now. Everyone deserves to be happy.

 

 

This will be my last post on this as I actually do have a life and shouldn't be wasting the 5 minutes it takes to respond to people who think they know it all but are clueless.  It's obvious you're someone I wouldn't like and fortunately will never have to meet in person.  So please move to CM as misery loves company and you will find quite a bit of that once you get there. 

As for myself, I will stay in my present location with all the conveniences and amenities of CM, with less traffic, pollution and a better/friendlier class of people, both locals and farang. 

P.S. Don't bother asking me where I live because while the possibility may be slim, I would hate to find out you've moved to the area.  I already know I wouldn't like you or your attitude, which you'll need to get rid of.  If not, you're going to have a lot of problems where ever you go - but you already know that don't you?  End of discussion.

2 hours ago, HuskerDo said:

Not sure why you hate CM and the people in it so much but something must have happened to cause all your hatred. I wish you a great life.

FYI, what happened was I lived in CM for longer than I should have as I'm sure is the case with many others.  I hope you get the opportunity to do the same and get to experience all the not so great aspects of what has become an overcrowded, highly polluted region of Thailand. 

Perhaps you will find some like minded individuals and you can discuss how the toxic air doesn't affect you, how the congested traffic is no problem and why you love going to immigration to sort out your visa affairs.  Or maybe, you will wake up, smell the coffee, and move on to a better location like I did, but somehow I doubt that will happen. 

Also, I think you're use of the word "hatred" is a bit much as I'm only being a realist about what I experienced after living here for a number of years.  Really, I think you will fit in perfectly in CM so don't have second thoughts about it.  I'm sure you will become one of the regular posters and people will be delighted to hear what you have to say. 

12 hours ago, HuskerDo said:

Please expand on that. Women issues? Difficulty assimilating? Visa issues? The heat was too much? Did you live on an extremely tight budget where it didn't allow you to enjoy some of the nicer things? Any and all information is appreciated. Thanks!

Part of it was getting far away from people like you who think CM is a great place to live.  And no, I have none of the issues you listed that you likely are dealing with. 

As far as being on a tight budget I'm actually quite well off and don't really have any budget. I buy and do as I want as I can afford it. Do me a favor.  Stay put where you are as CM seems to be the perfect place for you and your attitude.

55 minutes ago, HuskerDo said:

Hi 1947. Care to explain what it is you dislike so much there?

Stay awhile and you'll find out.  Best part I liked about CM was leaving it.

ng

On 11/17/2018 at 7:04 PM, JimGant said:

Yawn. I love the smell of burning vegetation. Reminds me of my youth in Virginia, when burning your Fall leaves at curbside was allowed. The aroma was wonderful. Now, of course, you can't do this. I imagine you can't fart in public anymore either.

 

Anyway, I've never been bothered by the air quality here in Chiang Mai. It doesn't bother my quality of life, and I'm sure something other than my lungs will be the contributor to my demise.

 

So, sit back, relax, and enjoy this wonderful place. Or if you're going to whine, move.

Another intelligent post from someone who claims he is not bothered by the air quality (actually would be more accurate to say the lack of air quality) and he is sure it will play no part in what finally kills him. 

People of Chiang Mai wake up.  Air pollution like you get in CM is a serious direct cause of many life threatening medical problems. It is also directly responsible for shortening the life spans of many who inhale the high levels of deadly PM 2.5 particles that you will soon be breathing again and this will last for months, contrary to what some of the uniformed will post that it only lasts a short time. 

Unless you can afford to take off for 3 to 4 months each year at the peak of this pollution, you definitely should consider moving and that is exactly what I did.  I only post with the hope that perhaps I can convince just one person/family to consider their health as their top priority before it is too late.  Believe me, there are a number of other place you can live in Thailand that are less polluted, less congested and offer all the same conveniences and needs you may have, just do a little research.  That's what I did and I'm much happier for it.

13 hours ago, lipflipper said:

People make too much of a big deal regarding the smoke. Yes, at times it can be difficult for some but they already had health issues and this only exerbates their misery. IMO, if you are relatively healthy it isn't that much of a problem. Therefore if you are serious living here look outside the city, avoid driving a car and your options are numerous. I prefer the peace and quiet and newer homes/condos that are available. The further you get away from the city proper the lower your rent is going to be. I prefer the Northwest or the Northeast of the city as it only takes me twenty minutes to get to Tha Pae gate and the old city.

Sent from my CMR-AL19 using Thailand Forum - Thaivisa mobile app
 

People who keep posting idiot stuff like "if you are relatively healthy it isn't that much of a problem."  probably already have brain damage from inhaling the toxic air so listen to them at your own peril.  It wasn't that long ago when everyone thought smoking wasn't that bad and you were more of an outcast if you didn't light up. Here's an article worth reading and then watch as there will likely be some stupid replies to come in denouncing it.  https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2018/oct/27/air-pollution-is-the-new-tobacco-warns-who-head

6 hours ago, stament said:

Really?

No I just make this stuff up for the hell of it.

On 10/28/2018 at 10:45 AM, NancyL said:

Hubby did his retirement visa extension a few days ago using the services of OS Thai Visa, so the services of the main-stream visa agents are still very viable.  They obtained a queue ticket for him with a POA form and took him and a couple other clients out to Immigration around 3 pm in the afternoon.  Hubby never did see the I/O review his documents; they were given to the OS Thai Visa people who reviewed them with the I/O.  He did include proof of income in the form of his income tax 1099 forms.  His only interaction with immigration at the new office was to have his photo taken, both for his extension and his multiple re-entry permit.  Total time at the new immigration office was less than one hour and his passport was returned with the next extension and re-entry stamps.

 

Was it worth the price paid to OS Thai Visa?  Well yes, if you're the sort of person who doesn't like to arrive at 6 am to receive a queue ticket.  By all accounts, now you don't have to arrive any earlier.  But, when Hubby first started to gather his documents and planning his application, things were still in turmoil at Imm. and he didn't want to queue at 3 am.  Also, he didn't know if his 1099 forms would be sufficient proof of income.  One of his pensions isn't deposited in Thailand, but rather in a U.S. bank account where we use it to pay off our Visa card each month for purchases mostly made in Thailand.  So, he was going to have a problem if he had to show 65,000 actually being deposited into a Thai bank each month.

Mind sharing what he paid OS Thai Visa for their services? 

Disappointing - not a single reply but then again this country is nothing but a big disappointment.  I am taking plan B which should have been plan A and heading out to another country.  Better people both locals and farang.

16 hours ago, CharlieH said:

Could also mean no one in that area has internet ??

cant read the post nor answer ????

Roi Et city and no internet?  Don't think so.

8 minutes ago, JohnOates said:

Report from the field:

Tuesday morning completed the yearly renewal of my Non Imm. O, marriage visa. Fifth time for me since moving to Thailand, second time in Chiang Mai. Arrived at 5:45am, no problem finding parking out front. Waited inside till 6am when que numbers were handed out.  Got que #I 3. Was called at 8:45am. I thought I had everything needed, as I’ve done this a few times now, but this was the first time I was asked to produce the copy of the signed marriage affidavit from the US Embassy, that we used to get our first Kor Ror 22 (the Thai marriage certificate for marriages outside of Thailand). Just the day before we updated our Kor Ror 22 at our local amphoe, which may or may not have been necessary, but she wanted the document from the Embassy too. Thankfully I was able to produce it as I always bring everything I’ve got, just in case. Was told by the officer that the couple just before us had the same issue but couldn’t produce it. So be sure to bring every document that was used to get any document they want. They also wanted my hand drawn map to include the Thai names of the roads, not just, “108” to “121” etc. Had to make a trip to the copy place just outside which took about 15 minutes, as the line there can be long. Completed everything and out by 9:45am. All in all not a bad experience provided that I had everything they wanted.  Cheers.

Same BS I went through some years back.  They kept asking for new documents never needed before and then the ridiculous draw a map nonsense.  They really don't like those here on a marriage visa.  If you can qualify for the retirement visa do it like I did.  Better yet,  get out of CM and deal with a normal IO that will process your visa extension in 20 minutes or less with no hassle.

Not one reply.  Hopefully that means you have better things to do than spending all your time on TV and not the case where you can't take a minute or two to help someone out requesting information.  I'll guess I'll find that out soon enough. 

Just wait to see what happens at the next election.  Things will not likely get better for expats but they could end up getting a lot worse.  Get an anti-western regime in and no telling what they will require, especially as the decision will soon be who are you with - China or the USA and its few remaining allies?  I think I know where the Thais and many others are headed so I wouldn't make long term plans you're secure here.

Can anyone tell me the best internet provider in Roi Et city?  Currently in CM and have AIS and had 3bbb before that.  Would probably stay with AIS unless people have had problems with them in Roi Et.  Thanks