jimbabe

Somehow I have come up with a house that needs about 180 meter square of roof. It includesalmost 40 meter square of porch but is all the same roof. We started to do tile but realized that cost was high and I worry the weight ( I have 8 meter spans) would be tremendous on our posts. I would not like the whole thing in my lap someday. I have looked at the product durabond and think it would work well for me. Does anyone have knowledge of this steel roofing they could share; maybe having used it. Is there somewhere to get lightweight trusses for it also? thaks much

sorry about name mistake khonwan; dayperson? kun puut oasa thai dai mai chai

No problem. Yes, I speak Thai, but with a Scottish accent!

Intrestingly enough I was just about to write that I think you had an extra zero. Now the question I have is what is the purpose of spending 1000 to 1500 bht/rai to sell at 1200/ 1700 bht per ton but see the answer in the aprox 5 ton per rai so profit is 4500 bht aprox per rai = 125 US per rai mai chai You had me on cloud nine and ready to have gf buy more land untill I typed in cassava prices, thailand and got the price story. One guy even thinks prices need to be lower so ethanol can compete with petrol. I realize its not a bad thai wage but I think Ill keep my day job. Thanks again ; jimbabe

Forget farming (in Thailand anyway) if you are going to compare it with western incomes from non-farming work! Still, cassava returns more than a bank and more than the rental value of the land, with very little risk and not too much work (by the owner, at least). I agree though, not a substitute for a real wage! Can't see the price coming down just so it can compete with petrol: it has always primarily been used in foodstuffs.

I know you are right khonman as now it seems the dry weather here in Buriram is killing the dton maan,. I tried to have gf carry water to plants but shes too disheartened or ? Its really just something to do to make her own money; a positive trait. I hope you are doing well with your crop. May it give you much satisfaction.

On the rice trade...I think Thailand is on the losing end.

If I remember correctly, not too long ago, Malaysia raise the export price of egg and veg to Singapore.

In the end, the Malaysia farmer lose market share to other countries - Australia and Japan selling premium egg and veg while China sell economic price veg to Singapore.

This is a lesson that Thailand should take note of cos country like Japan, Korean are waiting for the chance to enter the market..and yes; China can trade rice too. Yunnan, China is not too far away from Thailand.

china imports rice from the US and is in no position to export to singapore. More likely import from US cuz They have it to spare

sorry about name mistake khonwan; dayperson? kun puut oasa thai dai mai chai

No problem. Yes, I speak Thai, but with a Scottish accent!

Intrestingly enough I was just about to write that I think you had an extra zero. Now the question I have is what is the purpose of spending 1000 to 1500 bht/rai to sell at 1200/ 1700 bht per ton but see the answer in the aprox 5 ton per rai so profit is 4500 bht aprox per rai = 125 US per rai mai chai You had me on cloud nine and ready to have gf buy more land untill I typed in cassava prices, thailand and got the price story. One guy even thinks prices need to be lower so ethanol can compete with petrol. I realize its not a bad thai wage but I think Ill keep my day job. Thanks again ; jimbabe

sorry about name mistake khonwan; dayperson? kun puut oasa thai dai mai chai

My gf is planting about 4 rai of something she calls " dton maan",pparently a type of sweet potatoe with a 2 meter high upper stalk.

I have seen it grown elsewhere and wonder what the cycle is and what the economics of it are. Is it a good idea or one of these thai things done without much planning? We are in Buriram.

The English name is cassava (also known as tapioca). There are sweet varieties and a bitter varieties. Most crops are one of several bitter varieties - the end product is traditionally used in animal feedstuffs (the harvested root is high in starch). My land produces 3-4 metric tons per rai (up to 6, or so, is possible in other regions). The fresh-harvested root currently fetches around 12,030 baht per ton. I have seen it at around 800 baht (about 3 years ago). The crop commanded its best price ever (up to 17,000 baht) 12 months ago. Added value can be obtained by chopping the roots and sun-drying them for sale at a higher price. I can't recall our total costs but I think it is around 1,000-1,500 per rai. The root can be harvested anytime from a few months to two years. I'll be harvesting 24 rai within next two months and intend to plant 60 rai this year.

My gf is planting about 4 rai of something she calls " dton maan",pparently a type of sweet potatoe with a 2 meter high upper stalk.

I have seen it grown elsewhere and wonder what the cycle is and what the economics of it are. Is it a good idea or one of these thai things done without much planning? We are in Buriram.

The English name is cassava (also known as tapioca). There are sweet varieties and a bitter varieties. Most crops are one of several bitter varieties - the end product is traditionally used in animal feedstuffs (the harvested root is high in starch). My land produces 3-4 metric tons per rai (up to 6, or so, is possible in other regions). The fresh-harvested root currently fetches around 12,030 baht per ton. I have seen it at around 800 baht (about 3 years ago). The crop commanded its best price ever (up to 17,000 baht) 12 months ago. Added value can be obtained by chopping the roots and sun-drying them for sale at a higher price. I can't recall our total costs but I think it is around 1,000-1,500 per rai. The root can be harvested anytime from a few months to two years. I'll be harvesting 24 rai within next two months and intend to plant 60 rai this year.

My gf is planting about 4 rai of something she calls " dton maan",pparently a type of sweet potatoe with a 2 meter high upper stalk.

I have seen it grown elsewhere and wonder what the cycle is and what the economics of it are. Is it a good idea or one of these thai things done without much planning? We are in Buriram.

I find Thai history to be quite interesting. The list of kings associated with various geographic regions (Lan Na, Nan, Chiang Mai, Ayuthaya, Thonburi & Bangkok) is quite long. Although succession is nominally patrilineal, this has often not been the case in the past. A considerable amount of scheming (er, "palace intrigue") has gone on behind the scenes, with this son being bumped off, that uncle, and so on and so forth. Power has often transitioned to someone completely unrelated to the previous king, or only marginally so. A half dozen of the kings of Chiang Mai were actually Burmese, and at least one was "a rebel." King Taksin (1767-1782) was the son of a Chinese man and a Siamese woman, adopted by a royal family. Although he did a great deal to help Siam recover after the Burmese invasion of Ayuthya, he was not considered to be a "real Tai," or to have any true nobility, and so he was overthrown in the end, followed by Rama I.

I also find it quite interesting that so many Thais, here and there, profess to be of a noble lineage. This branch in Bangkok, tracing its history back to one or another king, or that extended family in Chiang Mai. I do not know if Thaksin can make a claim to royalty, but it would not surprise me at all. Perhaps a claim to nobility can come with a bit more than bragging rights.

Of course, Thailand is now a "constitutional monarchy," and the military gained much power in the early 20th century. From 1932-1957, Thailand was almost without a king, with King Prajadhipok succumbing to a military coup.

So there are these "three lenses" through which the Thai government/power structure can be viewed: the monarchy, the military, and the parliamentary system of government. Power waxes and wanes in each of these groups, and it is not always so clear as to which wields the most power at any given moment.

King Bhumibol has been a grand king in so many ways. He has done so much to improve and empower the monarchy of Thailand, and has represented a stabilizing factor not one bit less than enormous. I admire the man greatly, for all that he has done for and given to Thailand. In my mind, the man represents all the good that royalty ever can. (It is he who has made any foreign real estate speculation even possible, since such cannot occur without stability.)

Alas, all things come to an end... It seems that King Bhumibol has been in power almost forever. But he is old now, and he is not getting any younger.

Although not the first or most obvious analysis through which to view recent events, that there has been a coup at this point in time is really unsurprising when viewed against the backdrop of Thai history. That there could be another (two or three) is equally unsurprising. That the recent bombings could also be related to various groups of power in Thailand "seeking an improved understanding" also seems quite plausible, whether or not this is the case in fact. Understand -- it isn't really that anyone is unhappy with the current king, or wishes him overthrown. Rather, it is simply that the future power structure of Thailand is undecided/undefined. Or, if you prefer, "subject to renegotiation" at this moment in time.

It is certainly possible, indeed likely, that the prince will become king. The degree to which any future king will have power remains to be seen, however. Survival of the monarchy has been demonstrated as unnecessary, in the past. By the same token, survival of the parliamentary system of government must also be unnecessary.

History suggests that anyone who truly rules in Thailand will be charismatic, will be a skillful tactician and strategist, will have various kinds of "solid" connections to others representing power, will have ties to one or another faction of the Thai military, will be capable of =representing the interests= of one or more of the various factions representing power in Thailand, and will hardly be liked by all of those various factions. He will also have his own interests that he wishes to pursue, of course, which may sometimes be at odds with the interests of others. And so he will know how to watch his back, or, if not, will represent a temporary distraction in leadership, at best. (Really, Thaksin should have known that periods in which leaders are "out of town" are very popular times for coups in Thailand. By the same token, I'm sure the leaders of the coup know NOT to turn their backs on him. He does represent power, over and above his own interests.)

The next king =will= have power. Of one kind or another. The Thai military will also retain power. Of one kind or another. The parliamentary system will have all the power the king, the military, and the power elite choose to give to it, which may be more or less at any point in time (how many constitutions have there been in Thailand?).

There is a fourth force of power, of course, that being organized crime. The degree to which this is a "separate power" from the others often seems debatable, but it is there, nonetheless.

The point of all this? For those living in Thailand, it is reasonable to expect to be living in "interesting times" for the next several years, possibly even decades. Sure, it may all sort itself out quite quickly and for the good. But there should be no surprise if it does not. Regardless, the interests of various farangs who might want to own a condo or house aren't too near the top of the list.

In all seriousness, I love Thailand. It is a far more magical kingdom than anything Disney could dream up, and I am quite happy with the life represented by, and in, Thailand. What? You want to live in London, instead? Chicago? Good lord, why? Magic kingdoms are so much better.

Be brave. Buy land. Happy serfing!

The main problem with Thai electrical systems is that grounding rods are usually not installed. These rods are 8' long and 2 are required to be driven ALL the way into the ground next to the building and the neutral/ground bus in the breaker box is conected to them. This alows any stray current that energizes a chassis or housing an easy path to bleed off into the ground. In 3 months I and my wife will be coming over to build our house and you can bet that the entire electrical system for it (including breaker panels and breakers) will be to USA code and in the 20' container we ship and I will be installing it. I am contenualy being shocked when I touch a computer chassis when bearfoot on the granit floor in my sister-in-laws house even though the plugs are three prong.

However the boy in question probably touched the hot prong of the plug when he pulled it (a seven year olds fingers are small enough to fit between the socket face and the plug body while the plug is still half engaged. If that were the case then the ground (if it existed at all) would have been by-passed and the current would have passed through his heart and down his leg into the probably concrete floor. The same would have happened in the US or any other country unless the outlet was an electronic ground fault detection type with built in breaker.

Good friend of mine living in Bangkok heads up a construction company which build high-end properties (dwellings) in Chiang Mai and Phuket.

Told me recently that whenever the suppliers come over to quote for building materials, they ALWAYS ask "You want real earth rod, or fake one?"

I am surprised we don't read many more stories of people being electrocuted.

Very well said citizen oye oye

Ya, I remember when he ordered the army down to Yala and Pattani to restore order last year. No violence, killings and torture there, right? People stacked in trucks like pigs off to the slaughter, if I remember correctly.

The person in charge of that operation was General Sondthi, the very person who, along with 'others' orchestrated the coup. There is more to this country than meets the eye.

there is no evidence of violent death in thailand until about 800BC, what happened here?

I go along with thads comments.

you can even live comfortably on the than that if you need to.

PM me for more of a breakdown if you wish.

macb

Ill be your neighbor soon macb, building in muuban 10km east of phrakon chai. Next stay starts feb22. Like motorbikes best but we do have pickup.I want to know about growing some grapes there. Seems cold weather variety might not do? Jimbabe

ezvisa.com is also a great source of information on what you and lady need for papers etc .Ask for letter # 10

try first by yourself - especially if they already said it should be easy in your case.

be careful with them - I went to the layers just like you for a brief consultation and they charged my credit card ($2000) without my authorisation just by using my credit card details from the bank statement which they copied to create my portfolio. In thailand even layers are crooked. Had to go to their offices with a bend cop (again, all cops in thailand are bend) to get my money back.

try ezvisa.com. 899 usd but doing yourself in us is advised