klikster

I got one of those hybrid drives about 5 years ago, pretty fast and still going strong. I put it in wife's cheapie computer and it booted W7 in about 15 - 20 seconds. Because I installed in the old machine it won't boot on my shiny new MB. Because of some important files I haven't re-formatted.

As soon as the newer version of Windows (W9?) arrives I'm going to build a new system, but will use a smaller form factor case and 7200 RPM, 1T desktop version. For me, the issues (price, rewrite) with pure SSD's make me want to stay away for awhile longer.

Sorry, Sunshine -- for mis-spelling your name. My 70+ year old eyes and fingers failed me.

Stumbled across this as well. Photos of many places in Vietnam, both military and civilian, during the mid 60's era. http://www.panoramio.com/user/1643333

Thanks for the link klikster...also heaps of pix from the 70's in there....gave

me wet eyes & I only got to page 60 outta 699 pages last night. Seems to

be a Viet based Panoramio & makes me wonder how the many GI pix got

in there (lost slides & negs?)...never mind, it's all great stuff.

You're welcome, Subshine.

I found a photo of the camp where I spent six months back in the '64/'65. Brings back a lot of memories. An old 'Nam vet could spend a week on that section.

Wife informs me that the taxis here in Khon Kaen are metered .. and I know they serve the airport area.

I didn't find this specific model in the local 7-11, but did get a very similar (Asaka APS-301). Added about 200 MP3's from the wife's collection and she is very pleased with it.

Thanks to everyone who contributed to this thread.

I recommend you follow Kamalabob's advice, re: "permit to build" does not have to have any real bearing on what actually gets built.

Use a set of pre-approved plans per Martyjustice's post for getting the permit then build from your own detailed plans. You will likely be money ahead. While you may be able to get power and water from your relative's place, at some point you will need to change over to your own services. A permit makes things smoother.

3 km off ring road is not so far from the bureaucracy. Is that T. Samran?

Edit: A full set of plans detailed to my own specs and from a local A & E firm cost me Bt 13,000

Stumbled across this as well. Photos of many places in Vietnam, both military and civilian, during the mid 60's era. http://www.panoramio.com/user/1643333

Why write a letter to the US President? This has nothing to do with the US and we certainly don't want them here. Better to keep them on their own soil and as far away from the Kingdom of Thailand as possible.

Because Obama must care!

Let's remember that in May 2011, Suthep said "I don't respect farangs", in an interview with the AFP.

POTUS Obama is not a farang.

If by miracle, Pres Obama visits Suthep here (just because of Suthep's letter) then Pres Obama is a farang.

Maybe Pres Obama will deliver a speech in front of the protesters showing the letter of Suthep to them and will say:

"It's a great honor to receive a letter from your democracy-loving leader..."

"kaak" does not = "farang"

It would seem that many of the 'so called conditions' that an individual bank applies to a customer making application for a CC are based (notwithstanding language difficulties) on the beliefs of the individual bank employees own interpretation of the bank's policy.  Or, if they don't know, they will make them up as they go along.  Hence the example whereby an application in Bangkok may succeed but an application on the same bank in, say, Korat, will not.  I would have happily tried the Bangkok Bank but there isn't a branch within 130kms of me and not an ATM to be seen.  Anyway, all is well and I live to enjoy spending my money.  

Really?

I have a Visa Credit Card (actually a Toyota/Visa) that was first issued by a Bangkok Bank branch in Chiang Rai -- in 1996. The way I got the card was simple -- it's called "establishing a business relationship", much the same as one would go about establishing a business relationships in the west.  A personal friend who already had a business relationship with the branch recommended me.

I have an account at the bank, but the balance has not always been as high as the credit card limit. 

My renewal card was upgraded to "platinum" and good for 4 years.

Yes, I am a "foreigner".  No, I am not a business owner nor work permit holder.

Why write a letter to the US President? This has nothing to do with the US and we certainly don't want them here. Better to keep them on their own soil and as far away from the Kingdom of Thailand as possible.

Because Obama must care!

Let's remember that in May 2011, Suthep said "I don't respect farangs", in an interview with the AFP.

POTUS Obama is not a farang.

After 3 years and 2 moves, my Panasonic 32" has been great. When new house is furnished next month or so, it's going into the computer room/second bedroom -- and I'm lusting after 55" for the main room and master suite. I plan on looking really hard at Panasonic.

Anyone have any scuttlebutt about newer Panasonic LEDs?

Hmm .. just tried my Chrome/Hola (was running and set on Thailand). Changed to US, TV went AWOL! Reset to Thailand, back came the TV home page, then the [back] button dropped me right back to where I had been reading.

Thanks, JesseFrank. I wonder how much the hardness varies from the rainy season to the dry season. I heard that much of KK's water comes from Ubolratana Lake.

We have reached the stage in our build where making a yes/no decision about a softener is appropriate. Quite naturally, all the builders and water shops claim that a softener is required. We are connected to the municipal water supply.

I'm wondering is anyone here has walked this path before and can offer a realistic opinion.

U. Sila is inside the ring road, north of downtown, east of Mittiphap. House is located 2-3 km northeast of the immigration office, about 2-3 km southeast of the Lao consulate.

When I first started coming back to Thailand in '89 I was on a 'tour' and staying in Chiang Mai at a hotel on the 'canal road'. Sitting in the coffee shop having a brew one afternoon, a guy approached and just suddenly said, "You Special Forces."

The man looked Chinese, tough, square jawed and muscled -- looked a bit younger than me. "Are you asking me or telling me?"

He slid into the booth and started telling me about his time as security for a Special Forces camp in 'Nam. He was a Chinese Nung. They were mercenaries and acted as the last line of security for U. S. troops. We had a platoon of them in our camp in Plei Me.

I had heard that a Chinese movie company was quartered in the hotel while they were making a movie in Chiang Mai. I have long since forgotten the Nung's name, but we had several conversations over the next few days. He was stunt co-ordinator and coreographed all the kung-<deleted> stunts.

One day he showed me some old photos of him and several members of his "A"-Team. He had a brother living in Los Angeles and wanted to immigrate -- and asked if I would help. He didn't want money, he wanted a recommendation for the INS. I told him I would be happy to help and gave him my contact info -- living in California at the time.

I didn't hear anything for some time, the got a letter from him via the movie company in Hong Kong. He thanked me for my offer to help and told me that he had been promoted and decided to stay in Kong Kong.

It was king of a surreal experience, especially some of the conversations we had.

Thanls, Samuijimmy. I'll have a look at 7-11!

These prices quoted on this thread for new homes in Issan are double what you would pay in the US. In the US you get a large lot, real roads and civil amenities. Plus in the US the average family income is at least double that of Thailand. So I simply don't believe any of the bullshit I read here. Thai families in Issan don't buy out 500 unit subdivisions of 10 m baht houses. Somebody is playing games. Remember the speculation of 1997, and all the unfinished buildings and subdivisions left behind. They are still visible all over Thailand. I fear that after reading this blog, we a drawing closer to that happening again. Be careful what you buy.

Kind of a broad statement, inzman. And ill-defined claims as well. How "large" is large? My last 2 homes in the US (Southern California), sold in the 1990's (which wasn't such a great RE market in SoCal) for between $280k and $300k. Neither had more land than the house in KK, Umphur Muang that is now 95% complete with a total investment that will be about 50% of that.

Granted, both had more floor space, but not double my current property.

I wonder what those 2 SoCal homes would sell for now?

Anyone paying over 2 million for a house here is nuts and will regret it.

Most of these projects are a con and the resale value about halfwhat you pay for it but probably a lot less as there will be no takers.

Buy some land, get a good builder and build your own. I have a beautiful large teak house with plenty of land all for 650k.

Would cost me over 1/2 million pounds back in the UK

Have you seen the development?

"Buy some land, get a good builder and build your own. "

Been there done that. Didn't read my OP very well did you?

It won't be long and some Farangs will break down the door of the sales office while singing the Thai-National Anthem and slamming 10 Mil Baht on the sales-desk at the same time. Shortly after they will e-mail back to Europe "Have made the investment of my life, even the sales-lady has confirmed, that it will double in price within the next 2 years! Of course, all in wife's name, so I am on the safe side"

I am on the edge of my seat, clearly, another Thai-Success -Story is in the making.

Cheers.

In your haste to impart your pearls of wisdom, you apparently missed the "all sold out" status of the development I posted about.

And I didn't see even one farang as we made our brief tour of the place. Was told that most of the residents are doctors and retired uni staff.

As this seems to have turned into an assumptions thread, should we assume that you have been ripped off?

Too soon old, too late smart.

Thanks, passingas, that sounds really encouraging. It’s tempting for cost reasons to go for the cinderblocks as inner wall, but you chose red brick. Any reason?

Got an interesting email from a pal who builds condos here. He said they use those smart q-blocks in their double walls, but important not to use same thickness on both inner and outer wall - has to do with the physics of sound waves apparantly. They have just air inside the walls, no insulation.

I think you will find that the spacing of the wall elements rather than the thickness of them will be what contributes to a standing wave. If you are anticipating a standing wave problem, fiberglass will help.

Nice tips in this thread.

Thanks, LB. I'l' give that a try.

I'm looking for guidance and recommendations on a portable music player with speakers that my wife can easily carry outdoors when she is working in the garden.

Not looking for a "wearable" device. Something like a compact boom-box but it needs to have re-chargeable batteries. Digital files only, no CD's. Thumb drive or SD card. Semi-rugged.

Radio would be a plus

Also where to buy -- we live in Khon Kaen. I guess I could order from Ebay and get shipping here but buying local is my preference.

Recommendations greatly appreciated.