bubbaba

Thailand seems to have an abundance of water when it rains and a shortage of water most of the other times. I think if properly managed water could be available year around. However, what is the best method of doing this?

If you live, as I do, outside of town, in the country so to speak, how do you store your rainwater? Do you just let it run off and away? Do you store the water in some type of container, pond?

I would like any and all information, ideas, etc on this subject.

I smoked for most of my life, except for one 5 year period. I am 68 years old. I started when I was 11 or 12 years old. I quit last May using the Nicorette Chewing Gum. Works great. I only used the gum for a few days and then quit that too. At the time I quit I was smoking two plus packs a day. I have not even taken one drag from a cig since I quit and don't plan to. That is how you get hooked all over again.

As far as rights go, or, is smoking harmfull to yourself or to others. Cut the crap. I used the same arguments for years. Almost every post on here defending your rights to smoke or smoking dosen't hurt any one is pure bull...

You will feel as I do when you quit. IT WAS THE SMARTEST AND GREATEST THING I EVER DID FOR MY SELF AND MY FELLOW MAN.

You need, at the very least, a disclosure to do almost anything involving children in the UK, including being a referee in a junior soccer match to being a local press photographer taking pictures at schools.

I agree with comments that it will be difficult for Thai authorities to establish an easy method for getting the disclosure and checks done, but isn't this where the consulates and embassys should help?

You need these checks to teach in the UK so my opinion (for what it's worth) is you should have them here too.

IMO for people wanting to work abroad as a teacher, the home embassy should first endorse on the passport the persons qualifications to teach abroad. If you come to Thailand and apply for a teaching position, you must have the endorsement in your passport or be denied employment. Also, I think this system should apply to all types of employment.

A passport is a travel document. It has nothing to do with teaching qualifications. Do you thing that all citizens of a particular country ought to have their teaching qualifications entered into their passport in case they ever decide to teach English in Thailand?

Very true, a passport is a travel document. However that could be amended to include qualifications if a person so desired to have the endorsement. Of course not all teachers should have the endorsement. Only those who desire to teach here.

I'd say that most of the illegal teachers like myself are far better persons than most of the b!tches on this forum that love to rip the teachers apart at every chance they get. At least most of us earn an honest living and even give something back to the country that we live in.

I totally agree that there should be stringent screening of teachers, but please don't tar everyone that teaches with the same brush, there are many decent people teaching illegally without teaching qualifications that do a very good job. And of course there are those with a degree in motor mechanics that can be legal teachers that do an awful job.

What is needed in Thailand is an evaluation exam and several test classes to prove the ability of prospective teachers, and not something set up by some mickey mouse falang company that jump on an opportunity to make some money here in Thailand.

Sure thing, if I get a better job offer then i'd take it, but at the moment my job is teaching and I give it 110%, I enjoy the work, I like the kids and I see their grades improving, that gives me job satisfaction and a sense self worth. Something that is missing in many falangs here in Thailand

The government are cracking down on the wrong people IMHO.

I ask:

Do you think good morals should be a qualification for teaching?

Do you think a person who would lie or cheat is a person with good morals?

What kind of person would you want teaching your child?

You make a very good point. But I posit that there are so many shades of grey with respect to morals and so many social differences as to almost void your comment.....almost. You may find that many of the best teachers morals do not align with yours. So instead of getting off on a tangent about morals lets ask another question.

Albert Einstein was a womanizer. (Many people would say this is immoral)

Would you want him teaching your children if he were alive?

NO

You need, at the very least, a disclosure to do almost anything involving children in the UK, including being a referee in a junior soccer match to being a local press photographer taking pictures at schools.

I agree with comments that it will be difficult for Thai authorities to establish an easy method for getting the disclosure and checks done, but isn't this where the consulates and embassys should help?

You need these checks to teach in the UK so my opinion (for what it's worth) is you should have them here too.

IMO for people wanting to work abroad as a teacher, the home embassy should first endorse on the passport the persons qualifications to teach abroad. If you come to Thailand and apply for a teaching position, you must have the endorsement in your passport or be denied employment. Also, I think this system should apply to all types of employment.

I'd say that most of the illegal teachers like myself are far better persons than most of the b!tches on this forum that love to rip the teachers apart at every chance they get. At least most of us earn an honest living and even give something back to the country that we live in.

I totally agree that there should be stringent screening of teachers, but please don't tar everyone that teaches with the same brush, there are many decent people teaching illegally without teaching qualifications that do a very good job. And of course there are those with a degree in motor mechanics that can be legal teachers that do an awful job.

What is needed in Thailand is an evaluation exam and several test classes to prove the ability of prospective teachers, and not something set up by some mickey mouse falang company that jump on an opportunity to make some money here in Thailand.

Sure thing, if I get a better job offer then i'd take it, but at the moment my job is teaching and I give it 110%, I enjoy the work, I like the kids and I see their grades improving, that gives me job satisfaction and a sense self worth. Something that is missing in many falangs here in Thailand

The government are cracking down on the wrong people IMHO.

I ask:

Do you think good morals should be a qualification for teaching?

Do you think a person who would lie or cheat is a person with good morals?

What kind of person would you want teaching your child?

hi mike,were there from 10th til the 18th dec.....its then off to our house in samui,when in amnat before {our wedding,wow how crazy?} ive been fishing{my hobby}here and there,id like to find a good lake or river in the area that holds good size fish...any ideas?...also how long have you lived in phibun and what do you do pass the time?...maybe meet for a chang sometime.....

Congratulations !

I have had my house for about a year now, but I spend quite a lot of time in Singapore for business. I just bought a fishing rod a couple of weeks back, I am a complete beginner. So far I have only tried in a pond in my garden (without success, although I can see all the fish in there). The Mae Nam Mun is a big river, near my house and runs right through Ubon, there are fish in there. There are also large fish in the Sirindhorn reservoir. The Mekong is not far away too....

I would be happy to supply the venue and beer if you can give me a couple of tips to get started with my fishing

Hey guys, I am old and a non drinker, however, fishing is what life is all about. I would rather fish then eat. I will be in Khemmarat right about christmas and in Ubon for a week or more looking around the first and maybe second week of January. I will probable stay at the place you recommended "wrongway". After we find a place to live in Ubon and settle rent, deposits, etc. we plan to return to Bangkok and within the next few days to a month move there. I hope to meet you when we get there.

I would like to know name of company, agent, person, who sells or rents real estate in Ubon Ratchathani Province and Mueang Ubon Ratchathani Province. I would like to see listings of land for sale, house and land for sale, etc. Also repo list. Any and all information is welcome.

Thank you,

John and Nui

A couple of sugestions.

Post in the Issan sub forum, they might have a better idea. There are several members living in Ubon, wrongway has a cafe there and is active on that part of the forum.

Last time someone asked this question of Ubon, the general consensus was to go to Ubon and look around. Most of the rentals are posted on the front of houses or in the local area. The other advantage of this, is you also get to see the area the house is in. You may find your ideal house is not in the ideal area for a home.

Good luck.

I agree with everything you say CP.

You can rent a furnished room behind wrong way cafe for about 400 baht a day, and use it as a base to go house-hunting. As most farangs in the area accumulate in wrong way, they would also be a useful source of information about any places they know of.

If you find the right place, except has no screens, you can get them made and fitted for about 250 baht a window (if I remember correctly).

Look forward to seeing you in Ubon

Good luck,

Mike

Hi, thanks for the information.

May I have the address of the "wrongway cafe"? Directions? I assume the rooms that may be rented are western style and the food is western style, or close to it in the cafe.

Thanks again.

john and nui

Hi again,

Forget my request for information above. I found it on the Isaan Forum this morning.

I thank all of you for your help. If any new information comes available I will be happy to see it.

John and Nui

A couple of sugestions.

Post in the Issan sub forum, they might have a better idea. There are several members living in Ubon, wrongway has a cafe there and is active on that part of the forum.

Last time someone asked this question of Ubon, the general consensus was to go to Ubon and look around. Most of the rentals are posted on the front of houses or in the local area. The other advantage of this, is you also get to see the area the house is in. You may find your ideal house is not in the ideal area for a home.

Good luck.

I agree with everything you say CP.

You can rent a furnished room behind wrong way cafe for about 400 baht a day, and use it as a base to go house-hunting. As most farangs in the area accumulate in wrong way, they would also be a useful source of information about any places they know of.

If you find the right place, except has no screens, you can get them made and fitted for about 250 baht a window (if I remember correctly).

Look forward to seeing you in Ubon

Good luck,

Mike

Hi, thanks for the information.

May I have the address of the "wrongway cafe"? Directions? I assume the rooms that may be rented are western style and the food is western style, or close to it in the cafe.

Thanks again.

john and nui

Help - Looking to rent a one or two bedroom, apt or house, in or near Ubon starting in January 2007. Must have screens on windows and must have a western style toliet. Unfurnished. Any recommendations, suggestions, information. All accepted and appreciated. Thank you, john and nui

Hello. I would like to make friends with other farang who live in or near where I will live in the future. Other members as well, when possible.

I will soon live in Ubon Ratchathani and also begin constructing a home in Khemmarat a 106 klm away. I would like to meet farang who live in or near those areas or inbetween. I also have family in the Khorat area and will be visiting there often.

You may contact me at: [email protected]

John and Nui

I would like to know if there is someone on this forum who has experience growing mushrooms here in Thailand. If there is please PM me. My mother in law has mushroom houses, but, communication is bad at best and she has no concept of anything more modern then chopping fire wood for fuel.

Hi All

I start the Intensive Thai Programme at Chula Uni after New Year (v excited but a tad nervous). Is there anybody out in TV land that either attends this Uni or studies elsewhere in Bangkok?

BTW thanks to all those who have commented on various schools and language courses on the forum as it helped make my final decision.

Disco

Is this program for beginners or advanced. Can you provide any other information? Telephone number for the school, costs, etc?

Thank you

I think this thread is great. We really need it if for no other reason then to encourage each other. PasaThaiYakMak.

I have noticed many of the post talking about pronouncation. All transliteration systems are trash including the one I use. I have been advised many times to learn to read the script first and then to learn to speak. It works. I study out the sound of the word that is written in thai and then speak it out loud to my wife. 99% of the time I get it right. Now I have to start remembering what the words mean.

Also, you don't need to be able to read much. Just have a handy list of the script and the sounds that they represent and a list of the many vowles. You will learn to read. Also make a list of exceptions as you learn them. It is so much easier to say it correctly using the script instead of some system that is really useless.

I can type fast, but, I have not tried to type in thai yet. Sounds like a real trip.......

There is a rather large mushroom farm close to where we live . The growning media for the mushroom ( mostly Shiitaki) is mainly sawdust with some sugar ,alcohol etc added. Once the harvest is complete the compost -in ca 2liter plastic bags is thrown away . They do have trouble finding spots where to dump all this stuff .

So here is my smart idea.:

This must be wonderful compost for my garden and a good soil improvement adding organic matter to the very light sandy soils we have.

Is there any experience out there with this stuff? Does anything speak against using it .? I can get vast quantities .for free and free delivery too ,they are happy to find a place to put it .

Normally in Thailand everything that is free is GOOD for many Thais -am I missing something here?

I just read the OP and I think all of the responses. I have some thoughts/questions. I also have a mother-in-law whose yard looks like Ma and Pa Kettle's place due to mushroom farming. Needless to say, she has mountains of this stuff still in plastic bags, piled everywhere.

I read one suggestion to try it different ways and see what works. I will do that on my next trip to Khorat.

I also read where you might need to add nitrogen, etc. to the soil. I agree.

After planting (legums sp BEANS) and harvesting, or planting and when half-grown, cover the field about three to six inches deep with the mushroom waste and plow it all under. Would that produce enough nitrogen and/or make a fertile field ready for a new/different crop?

What about bedding for livestock and/or ground coverning in pens (pig pens) chicken pens? On a regular schedule you could clean out the pen/ground and haul to field for use or compost it for a short time and then to the field with it.

I read once about a man who had two fields for pigs and garden. Pigs in one side and garden in the other. After harvest he moved the pigs to the garden side and planted the old pig pen. He had been doing this, switching pigs and garden back and forth, for years with good results. He almost never plowed. Only slight tilling and or hoeing. He added no fertilized. He did say that he limed once, I believe in the beginning. I was thinking - What if you covered the ground in the pig pen side with 6 to 12 inches of mushroom waste. When time came to move the pigs and plant, would this field be ready or what?

I would like to know what you experts think? I would like suggestions? I too think, as the original post, that there might be a great amount of good stuff being wasted that we could use to save money and produce more in an earth friendly manner. What do you thing about my ideas? I plan to try the one about two fields. I have always thought that someday I would try that method and now with all of the mushroom waste, I am sure that I am going to try it.

I am cleaning house (it seems to get smaller every year ) and have quite a few older Organic Gardening Magazines. If anyone is interested, PM the topic you want (they cover everything) or if you just want a random selection and I will be happy to mail it to you. I hate to throw these away as they are full of valuable information but just don't have the space to spare anymore.

How many do you have and what is your location? I am in Bangkok, Thailand.

I used to read Organic Gardening Magazine, however, for the past 12 or so years I have been outside of the U.S. It is a great magazine full of usefull information. I am trying to promote Organic Farming/Gardening here with my family and it possible with others as I go. The magazines would be great to have, if possible.

I just read thru the Kudzu posts here on TV. I cannot tell if the jury is still out or if you guys have decided that kudzu in Thailand, or anywhere, is good or bad. I have no experience with it except to read about it and dream of low cost food for livestock. I was raised in the south east United States and I have never seen the stuff. Only heard about it. Bad and good.

Does anyone here know where it grows in Thailand? Does anyone here grow it? I think a personal look-see would be good. My only concern so far in reading about kudzu is the subject of control. I would not want to create a nightmare for myself and others.

<I've merged this into the Kudzu thread...RC>

Hi. I'm new on this forum and new to Thailand. Does any one on this forum have information on raising goats in Thailand for meat, and, maybe, milk?

I have read that the Issan land is not great for pasture and farming. Would the land be able to sustain goats and what type of grass/weed would I need to plant to make it work, if possible?