ThaiFelix

Individual situations involving barking or growling dogs usually is a territorial issue and not as threatening as it may seem. Calmly walking on without any major reaction will usually suffice. The stick in hand may make you feel more secure but raising it will only aggravate. Do avoid looking directly at the dogs eyes but look past it as if looking at something directly behind it. That way you can still observe its movements. If you have fear the dog will know (smell) it anyway and may become more aggressive in noise but not necessarily in action. Some dogs simply have a regular habit of demonstrating but not much more.

But do avoid dogfights or dog packs in your path.Totally unpredictable scenario.

If unfortunate enough to actually get bitten the norm is a series of precautionary rabies vaccine shots. If possible you should make all best attempts to identify the "owner" and demand compensation.

Recent laws introduced in Thailand related to the general issues around dogs have yet to be brought home to the minds of many dog "owners".

In some areas it has already decreased the number of roaming dogs and from my observation increased their overall health condition. Sadly the concept of taking genuine responsibility for bad behaviour of dogs and male children is almost equally denied or ignored too often.

My wife was bitten a couple of months ago riding a motorbike past a house in our village, right opposite the markets. The owner couldnt deny the fact as the dog has a bad reputation having bitten several people previously...he just keeps paying the medical bills!! I'd like to wring his neck.... the owner that is! (There is no such thing as a bad dog,,,only bad owners IMHO)

Should not have had access to guns...

No saying they would not have found another way to end it.

Perhaps.

But there's something kind of messed up that 15 year old's have easy access to guns.

Sounds pretty heavy to me....better go out and buy some more guns....and some for the kids while I am at it

But seriously, this is really sad. We have all done regrettable things when we were younger...these girls sadly wont have the chance to regret...RIP

Carry a pocket knife

Absurd. A stick is the best defensive weapon there is. Especially for dogs. Why would you want to get close enough to the animal to cut it? Even against a knife a stick is a far better defense than another knife. Of course, the recommended defense against a knife is your feet -- run as fast as you can.

I think you are getting carried away here, I mean how many dogs carry knives??

This is my experience. Been around dogs most of my life so I dont fear them, I like them and I respect them. As I dont fear them I dont really notice them and they leave me alone. Been here 13 years and never had a problem. Dogs sense fear and in the wild a frightened animal can react both ways...run away or strike out of fear. I knew a wimp yank who lived in same building as me who wouldnt leave the building if dogs were outside. He would wait for hours for them to leave or for someone to escort him, before going to work. They would growl and bark at him everytime.......because he was shit scared of all dogs. These same dogs I would walked by and they wouldnt even raise their heads from licking their dicks I have found that 99% of the time dogs ignore me but on private property thats a different matter. Be careful as they are protecting their masters property.

Carrying a stick or rock?....mmm be careful. Sometimes it works but sometimes it provokes them to attack because you are acting aggressively. I know its an easy thing to say but try to handle your fear of them. Good luck.

I ALWAYS find that the ex-smokers are the biggest whingers, not the never have smoked crew. Once a smoker always a smoker I say, they whinge and whine because they still crave. I believe in quality not quantity. If have tried to give up many times and I can tell you that live is miserable craving all the time and its miserable for everyone around me....if they stick around!!

You have to go through the whole process again if it expires.... .fresh paperwork, doctors cert. etc, and of course the money, its all about the money....same happened to me.

A little of topic but I paid 500 baht for mine at Sakon Nakhon Imm office to renew my drivers......is that the norm?. I just thought it was a little over the top, considering the cost of the license is far less. I was also suspicious because I was laughed at and refused when I asked for a receipt??

Reminds me of a situation some years ago when I was teaching English for a large school chain in Bangkok. We had some showy function on for the parents, I forget now, Open day, Christmas, Sports day?? I forget. Anyhow my coordinator (Thai) came to me and asked me to be English MC for the occasion and handed me a speech I was to read which had been written by the principal/school director (Thai) and asked me to check it. It was atrocious so I edited it on my laptop and handed it back. On the day, just before I was to stand at the podium, my coordinator again handed me the speech and I was dumb-founded on checking it, to see it had been changed back. My coordinator, noticing the look on my face, shrugged her shoulders shyly and informed me that the principal had changed it back again because the English wasnt correct!! In 10 years at that school I had never heard that principal utter a word of English apart from good morning.....even in the afternoon!!

Maybe KingPower and security had something going for Valentines Day but I can tell you I tried to buy whiskey in Kings last year and the shop attendant actually asked me where I was going. When I said Australia I was told I couldn't take it on the plane because of Australian regulations.

If you do take photos just make sure everybody is pointing in the same direction or they are considered invalid

Hi everyone! I had a devil of a time finding the Ocean Fish Shop in Udon Thani so thought I might post some location information here to help others. Most of the info on this site is dated and I could only find their old address. The shop sells a wide range of aquarium and pond fish, tanks, pumps, and accessories etc and the woman running the shop is very helpful and speaks passable english. They are on Sri Chomchuen road almost directly opposite the front gates of the PEA (Provincial Electricity Authority) Office. It is a pink shop with loads of aquariums in the windows but is difficult to see driving by. Their telephone number is 0422 46890. I have attached a scan of their business card for your assistance (Thai only).

I have no association with this shop apart from being a satisfied customer and one who experienced a lot of stress trying to locate them.

Thaifelix

Did you have this problem just after you changed the water?

No, only seems to be after eating.

They are delicious!! I have been trying to get someone to post me some seeds from Australia.. As a kid most old houses in my area always had a loquat and a mulberry tree (and I knew where they all were hahaha). I think this is a very good fruit to develop as they did with the kiwi fruit. The seeds are big and plentiful as Rice555 states above. The skin can be a bit leathery and marks easily(not a perfect appearance) but the flesh is worth it. The trees as a kid grew almost wild/untended but the quantity of fruit per tree was impressive (I could jump a fence and be back with an armfull in two minutes!!). I read somewhere that the seeds must not dry out in transit or they will fail to germinate, so some care/speed may be needed when posting. Good luck.

Failed to mention that all fish are back to normal after 10 to 15 minutes after feeding. I am using InteqC 4641? small pellets, and feeding twice a day.

Hi everyone. I am a newby with PlaDuk and need some help. Concrete tank 3 mt x 2 1/2 mt, water level 40 cm. About 350 fingerlings (about 125mm.) Although we had some initial problems losing about 10 fish a day thru some bacterial disease, after a salt treatment suggested by Udon Fisheries office we have not lost any. Fish look healthy, eat like they havnt been fed for weeks but after feeding there is always a dozen or so that float lethargically with the heads up and whiskers just on the surface?? First we thought it was bloating from the small commercial floating pellets and it was suggested that I soak the food first (about 10 mins). Still having the same results. Saw something on here yesterday about "head float" but it didnt give any details and today I cant find that same post. By the way I do a 50% water change twice a week. The water comes from the next moobarn and I am told it is untreated and comes from a 90 meter bore. This water appears very clean but does have a lot of minerals judging from the salts that build up on the bathroom fittings, tiles etc. Anybody have any ideas??

Thanks in anticipation.

Yep bondcrete gets painted on the old surface.

Yes it does, but you can add to mortar to make stronger and help it stick when applying bagging to brickwork

You can mix it in with the concrete when constructing a water tank or fish pond to make it waterproof. You can also finish same by brushing on two coats of a paint comprised of bondcrete, fine sand and cement (cant remember if you add water or not??). Did a fish pond, as above, a while back and10 years later still no leaks or cracks

Just as an update I bought a 20lt drum of Lanko 751 for 3,259 baht from Global House Udon Thani. Thanks everbody for your input.

Fairly certain that PVC glue diluted with equal amount of water does the same thing as bondcrete.

I mean PVA glue not PVC. Sorry.

Exactly what bondcrete is. Aquadhere glue watered down.

Thanks, but not sure that is entirely true. I used to think the same but seem to remember reading that while they are similar, Aquadhere (PVA) glue does not give anywhere near the same results mixed with cement/concrete.. But I could be wrong, wouldnt be the first time, I seem to remember.........

Have you been to "do home" ? Biggest building warehouse shop i have been to. You can find them on the web. The one i went to is next to thai watsadu north of khon kaen.

Yes but I use the one in Udon Thani....very good range. There are so many outlets of this kind in Udon that they are very competitive....surprising the service you get sometimes by mentioning one of the other stores haha

Thanks folks, sounds like Lanko 751 might be the go if I cant find bondcrete.

Has anybody seen Bondcrete for sale in Isaan? Being from Oz I have had a bit of experience with it and its an excellent product. I have heard its available in Bangkok but have been unsuccessful finding it here in Isaan (I am about equal distance from Udon Thani, Kalasin and Khon Kaen). I have a couple of jobs coming up where it would be very handy, such as bonding old concrete/cement to new and using it as a water-sealing admix to concrete in a fish pond construction. If not, does anyone know of an equivalent product and where to purchase? Many thanks in advance.

Its about time...<deleted>.

"Dolly did it, I'm innocent!"

OK,glad it went smoothly.I've always found the staff there very helpful.Is copying the entire a passport a new requirement?

Yeah gotta agree with you wholeheartedly Jim, the staff there are always extremely patient and helpful, best in my experiences with Thai immigration over 10 years though I have never had a bad experience. It's actually quite a pleasant ordeal if it weren't for the distances we have to travel.

No offence intended to you/ your comments, but just to be on the safe side, I also had my wife ring the office to double check on the requirements and they stated every page in passport. For safety reasons I decided to go the whole hog and give them copies of everything. Not to say they maybe would have been happy with only that which was included in your list. I also know from experience that Thai bureaucracy is addicted to using up as much paper as they can. Makes me wonder where it goes? There must be huge warehouses full of the stuff....or is it sold off to recyclers and the funds used for the annual Xmas/New Years party??

I did my third "marriage" extension at Sakon Nakhon last week,your wife must go with you to sign a declaration but you don't need a witness.

2 copies of everything as well as the original documents where possible:

Form TM7

Passport id page

Visa

Departure card

Previous extension stamp

Marriage cert. and registration sheet ( this shows the signatures of you and wife,witness and registrar)

Bank letter dated the day that you are applying

Bank passbook updated to the date that you are applying

Wife blue book

Wife id card

Letter from village head + id card

Map of village with your house marked

4 Photo's of you/wife around the house ( 1 showing the address) you need 2 sets of these

2 passport type photo's of yourself ( obviously!)

The marriage certificate and signature sheet are double sided so make sure the copies are the same i.e on a single sheet of paper.

It helps if you fill in both TM 7 forms and seperate the documents into 2 sets

The outcome: Thanks Jim, I followed your much appreciated list and everything went smoothly. The only thing I did differently was to include copies of every page of my passport. The only ones they tossed out were the stamps immigration transferred to my new book when I renewed my passport quite some time back. They requested nothing more bar the hint that I buy him lunch plus a jacket like the one I was wearing.....yeah right!! Thanks again Jim.