FolkGuitar

The worst part of corruption is that it keeps the system moving so well! Perhaps that's why the Chinese nickname for it is 'fragrant grease.' Pay it, and everything moves smoothly. 5,000 years ago it ceased to be an issue of 'legally right or wrong,' in favor of 'effective or not effective.' And unfortunately, it is very effective.

Thanks for the update, Mahseer! I appreciate it.

My first health check here was at Ram, and all subsequent yearly health checks at Rajaveg Hospital. There are two obvious differences between the two; Rajaveg was about 3,000 baht cheaper for the same tests, and Ram had carpeting on the floor in the waiting room. I don't make an appointment. I fast after dinner the night before, show up at the hospital at 8am and immediately get taken for blood test and the rest of the program. Usually finished by 8:45. I leave and have breakfast, come back at 10am for physician's physical exam and consultation on test results, and home by 10:45. Usually no waiting more than 2-3 minutes to be seen at each station. Very smoothly run program. In and out quickly with both printed results and DVD of ultrasound. I think I paid 4,700 Baht last month for this.

I wonder how they will get the Chinese tourists to go through their roadside checks to 'protect' them? There certainly won't be more police actually on the streets preventing crime. That might actually make sense.

Here's a Hearing Aid update... A LOT has changed in these past few months, and I've learned a lot about these new hearing aids on the market today. In the US, hearing aid can now be sold over the counter in places like Walmart, CVS, Target, etc. and at very reasonable costs! Most are self-programmable. Quality varies, especially by price, but reputable name brands are available. Be careful and do not get lulled by low prices. Do your research about each brand and each model. There may not be any trained hearing professions doing the selling. As far as top of the line custom hearing aids, again, big changes. Now virtually all top-end hearing aids are Bluetooth enabled, and have smartphone apps to 'generally' control them. By that I mean many of the apps will control only volume, and perhaps bass/treble sliders, while other brand apps may also provide those for each custom program, and a couple of other general settings, etc. ReSound brand is touted to have the best app, and I personally agree. It can be GPS linked to a specific location which means that if I create a 'custom setting' program for my favorite weekly lunch with friends at our regular restaurant, link it in the app to the phone's GPS, every Friday when I walk into that restaurant my hearing aids automatically switch into that specific custom setting! When I leave, it automatically switches back to my all-around setting. The app lets me adjust bass/mid/treble in four different situational programs, as well as adjusting wind noise. I seem to be able to create unlimited number of 'favorite' programs linked to my GPS. That said, I rarely use the app to adjust volume. I prefer the button on my hearing aid. One button serves both devices for volume, although I have the option of changing just one side if I wanted to change the initial set-up. That's NOT something that can be changed by the app. One needs a wireless interface to software on a computer. I bought my interface from Ebay, and the hearing aid company I use gave me the software and showed me how to use it. BUT... one does NOT need to self-program any more. Your audiologist can connect with you hearing aids via smartphone, and make any changes you might like! I treated myself to a pair of ReSound One-nine devices, and could not be happier! The sound quality is the most normal that I've encountered to date, and the customization perfect for my needs. The ReSound One-nine is made in three different models; Rechargeable, 13, and 312 size batteries. I chose the battery model as I travel often, and would always have to have a charger with me. Two spare 312 batteries take up no room on my key-chain. That, plus my hearing aid supplier recommended that I keep away from rechargeable because it would cost me too much (living here in Thailand) to replace the battery when it wears out. I opted to upgrade the receiver to the next higher power as my hearing is going fast and these should cover me for at least the next 5-6 years. They come with a four-year warranty from the manufacturer. They have the highest water resistance rating available, although I believe it's the new Oticon hearing aids that you can safely wear in the shower! ReSound uses a nano-coating on all its individual inside parts, then again as a finished product, so it should stand up well to the occasional rain storm, but living in the tropics I still like to use a dry-box every night anyway. I wouldn't be able to do that so conveniently with rechargeable devices. One delightful benefit of Bluetooth enabled hearing aids is that they can connect with your phone, automatically channeling the call/music/audiobook/etc., directly into your hearing aids. With my new ReSound One-nine I can tap a button on my hearing aid to answer the phone (still in my pocket) and answer back via the mics in my hearing aid! Finally crystal clear phone calls. A button tap ends the call and returns you to your previous situation. The hearing aid shop in Chotana Mall can order ReSound hearing aids, and she is very pleasant to deal with. However, I bought my hearing aids online for the savings, which were significant. The dealer pre-programed them with my audiogram and sent them to me. We made an appointment to connect, and as he showed me how the new fitting software worked, tweaked a couple of frequency settings that I wanted, changed some button assignments (right press volume up/left press volume down, long left press streaming (from any Bluetooth source) on, right long press streaming off. That was really all I needed to make them fit perfectly to my needs. That, combined with the GPS custom settings automatically changing for me through my usual day, unnoticed by my unless I happen to look at my phone and see what program I'm in! That said iPhone (maybe Android too?) has its own app that connect to your Bluetooth devices allowing me to adjust the volume of each hearing aid separately or together, as well as completely mute them. It also shows battery levels. One very cool feature is "Live Sound." Turn on Live Sound and your phone's mic becomes one of your mics. If you're at a large table and can't hear the people at the other end, turn on Live Sound, and your phone becomes a directional mic. If it's a really big table, put your phone in the middle pointing towards them. No need for extras. But of course, extras are available! Most of the major brands have remote mics, TV streaming devices, and devices that do both. Each is well worth the extra money... IF you need them. I bought ReSound's 'Multi-Mic' and use it at least a few hours a day. Not needed... just makes life easier. I guess this got a little longer than I planned... ????

'Goodspeed Computers' here in Chiang Mai has made all of my desktop machines for the past 20 years. I tell them what I want it to do, they make recommendations as to specific parts and pieces (CPU, GUI, Power supply size, etc., etc.,) and tower, we discuss it, decide, and they assemble it all. They will install the operating system, drivers, and some various 'regular use' software such as Microsoft Office, Photoshop, Skype, etc., but if you prefer an empty drive and do the installs yourself, they are fine with that too! Over the years I've had the occasional glitch, brought the tower into the shop, and they fixed it while I waited. If it would take longer, I could pick it up later, but NEVER had to wait overnight for a fix! No question in my mind, when I'm ready for a new computer, I'll have Goodspeeds put it together for me.

I met with him today, and he gave permission for me to forward his contact information. He does not have a shop any longer, but does make house-calls! If you want his data, send me a PM. I don't feel comfortable just posting it here.

I don't know if it's the same women you are speaking of, but in the small soi behind the old Montri, (Ratchadamnoen Soi 1) the woman there made three shirts for me last week. She's been in that same shop for as long as I can remember, and doing the same great work!

Nancy was a wonderfully caring person, always willing to lend a hand to those in need, and a great help to many elderly ex-pats here in Chiang Mai. She will be missed. R.I.P. Nancy. Roger, my deepest condolences.

It's either Dr. Sopa or Dr.Vannee. At the time I was introduced, my hearing aids were busted, and I'm not sure which is which. But it is the older woman, not the younger man that you want to have examine you.

Personally, I prefer bi-focals for motorcycle riding. Even the very best vari-focal lens have blurred peripheral image, with sharp and clear just a narrow strip down the lower middle. The width of that strip depends on the price of the lens, but even with the most expensive, there is still blurred peripheral vision in 2/3 of the lens. When I'm driving, I want as much of my peripheral vision to be sharp and clear as possible.

Prior to the Pandemic, the Chiang Dao Tuesday Market was was an interesting way to spend a morning. Anyone here living in Chiang Dao, or pass through recently on a Tuesday? Is that huge Tuesday morning market running again? Thanks!

Sad when a such a young person dies on the roads, but not unexpected. In fact, I'm surprised we don't see more injured food delivery riders, based on the way they seem to need to cut inside of turning vehicles, weave in and out of traffic at high speeds, and make right turns from the left-hand lane. These riders are trying to make a living, but often doing it at the expense of the safety of others on the roads. In this case, the rider paid his own way. R.I.P.

Does anyone still buy printers that need replaceable ink cartridges? Most printers I've seen being sold here in Chiang Mai have either internal or external bulk tanks. I print every day, only add new ink once or twice a year from bulk bottles that cost relatively nothing, even when compared with a single cartridge.

Now everyone, not just Elites, can be fast-tracked at Chiang Mai Immigration. We've used the appointment system a couple of times, and find it very effective. No complaints.

Make an appointment online. That way, you can be in and out in less than an hour, and you can pick your own date and time. The system works very smoothly.

If used in hospitals, there are three+ hospital/clinic supply stores in Chiang Mai, and several pool supply places that sell more than just pool chemicals. 'Pool World' on Mahidol Rd carries a LOT of other chemical supplies. 'Union Science' on Suthep Rd. is the biggest hospital supply shop, as far as I know, and there is another smaller shop a few blocks east of Union Science, and another fairly large place on Sri Poom Rd west of Chiang Puak Rd.

I hope this change will make the Miss Universe contest a bit more unbiased, and they allow in a wider range of contestants. Each year and every year that the contest has been held so far, the title has been won by someone from Earth!

The only Zen you find at the top of the mountain is the Zen you bring up with you.

Here... hold my beer!

Applied for mine today. Took all of 10 minutes, that long only because I had to fill out two application forms. Very speedy these days!

How's that working for you INSIDE the supermarket or department store? Places where it is most common for people to ask staff for the location of an item? Personally, I can use a printed map. I can use GoogleMap. But neither does me no good inside Warrarot Market, or any other large shopping venue, places where unless you shop there often, and not wanting to spend the extra time hunting around until you stumble upon your desired object, you're going to ask for directions... and usually get that vague wave of a hand indicating 45 degrees of compass arc... or bored look to go with the 'finished' comment.

Chiang Dao Tuesday morning market had a couple of stalls selling local tobacco by the kilo. One fellow was set up just next to the bus station.

Thanks! I've found that most hearing aid clinics only charge 400-500 Baht for an audiogram. Oddly enough, every audiogram that I've had in hearing aid clinics include a 'Signal-to-Noise Loss Ratio' test, which measure one's ability to hear spoken words clearly in various levels of background noise. This is a VERY important test when adjusting hearing aids for a user. This test was not done by Bangkok Hospital. Not as thorough an audiogram, as it turns out, that I actually needed. Fortunately, I had the results from the one done in a hearing aid clinic that I was able to send to my company.

This is especially the case with an audiogram. The test is totally non-invasive, nothing put in-nothing taken out. In fact, all you do is listen to beep tones or speaking in background noise in a pair of ordinary headphones and press a button. That's it. Out pops a piece of paper with your audiogram. And that is all I needed. If it IS legal to do so, and we are NOT required to have a doctor's prescription to get an audiogram in a hearing aid store, with possibly no medically-trained people involved, and we do know that it is... ...then 'requiring' a doctor's exam first, then more audiological tests than had been asked for, followed by another doctor's consult afterwards, and being charged for them despite being told that these were not wanted or needed is nothing more than the hospital covering its a$$ and padding the bill with unwanted and unneeded tests. Hey, if someone wants a doctor's consult and a more complete audiological examination, then this is great. But only if you need all of it.