gobs

A quick follow-up...

Finally got a vintage (1972?) Pioneer PL-1200 (PL-51 in the West) from the shop "We love turntables" in Bangkok http://www.weloveturntable.com/?cid=2129127

Just delivered by Flash to my door this evening.

Great shape as described and complete. Ready to use as well...

 

 

As I don't own yet a proper amp and speakers, I put it at work for a rough quick test in my DIY studio with an amp and speakers I had at hand. As far as it is, everything works fine...

 

 

I think the asked price of 8500 Bahts was OK for Thailand (+ express delivery 200 Bahts).

I love the look and the vintage way all is put together. Beautiful piece of walnut wood on top of an iron casing (for a total weight of 11 kg), and nice tonearm set. Tomorrow thorough cleaning to get it the nicest possible.

Now I've to think about a DIY tube amp and to find some good second hand passive loudspeakers. A nice project for the coming weeks.

Again, thanks to all for your help and your ideas. Much appreciated...

Cheers

 

 

 

Thanks to all for your nice comments, ideas and great advice. Much appreciated...

You push me to look further, and by browsing some shops online in Thailand, I found those "newly manufactured" turntables available here:

 

Gadhouse Brad. With USB + RCA outputs and inboard amp + small speakers. Retro style. About 5000 Bahts

 

Marantz TT5005. Classic turntable with RCA output only. About 7500 Bahts

 

Audio-Technica LP60XHP. RCA output with inboard pre-amp (on/off) and headphone amp. Free over-head headphone. About 7500 Bahts

 

These are basic turntables for beginners as I am. Mainly made of plastic with alloy plate. I was thinking maybe I could begin with that (right now I'm not a collector), and see later...

Though if I could find a vintage turntable in good shape in Thailand for this range of price (under 10000 Bahts) I would buy it I suppose. But OK, no hurry...

Again, thanks to all here.

6 hours ago, elektrified said:

Are you looking for a vintage (and not a newly manufactured) one?

Thanks for your interest...

Right now, I'm not really sure what I want. At first I was thinking of a vintage (but not high end) turntable. Then I see the vintage ones I see for sale in Thailand are usually expensive to me, and for what I want to do with...

I'm not an expert. It's more having fun by listening to some vintage LPs now and then...

 

 

4 hours ago, nobodysfriend said:

https://www.kaidee.com/c77-electric-tv_hometheater/?q=turntable

 

You want to buy or collect classic high end audio gear ?

Check out Kaidee.com ... you will be surprised what is available here in Thailand ...

Thanks a lot for the link. Agree, very surprised... and interesting.

I just want to buy a "honest quality" turntable and listen to some vinyls I own from time to time. I'm no expert and don't want to go the "classic high end gear" route. It's more about "nostalgia" I guess ????

 

4 hours ago, soumanioco said:

 

Wow! Thanks for the pics. Impressive...

7 hours ago, recom273 said:

Not too sure about CNX - I find Hifi equipment a little overpriced here (Although I don’t have any vinyl here) If I were you I would do my research online, go check some shops and then work out the best way to get what you want, maybe book a flight somewhere or order from overseas.

 

There are a couple of places in BKK where you can check out the turntables, HD Hifi or BKK audio - I have never purchased anything at these places, I found the prices too much, it would have been cheaper to fly to Singapore for a day to pick the goods up from the Asian distributor. I bought my elac speakers from AV Value in BKK they stock denon turntables.

 

If you need pre-amps there are plenty of compact component amps at reasonable price - check schist audio mani or research chi-fi amps. 
 

Cables - Ghent Audio offer an excellent service.

Thanks for your interest as well as your advice. That's the way I was thinking about. First, what I can get at my doorstep in CNX, then planning to have a look in BKK. Then...

Good to know HD Hifi and BKK Audio...

1 hour ago, Captain Monday said:

I am interested for same reason but first I need to find a stand that fits my decor in the residence I intend to use it in. Most of them are USB. Not sure about the sound. AND if If you want a classic LP player with the phono plugs modern AV receivers and amps don't have a built in line level pre-amp like classic receivers. So, you need to get a preamp. Now I recall they had a ground wire also?  I have about 25 LPs that are not available on CD I would love to play again.

Thanks for your interest. I'd like better a "classic" turntable. But as I don't know how is the market nowadays, I want to have a look at what is available...

 

 

1 hour ago, Mahseer said:

If you prefer to inspect prior to purchase Neo on Huay Kaew Road stocks turntables.

Thanks Mahseer. Will go. And yes I'd like to have a look before purchase...

Hi all,

Willing to play some vintage records I've recently got. But where to find/buy a turntable in Chiang Mai?

Some advice would be great. Thanks in advance...

 

Hi all,

If of some interest, I had a phone call today from a guy previously working at G4T visa agency in Promenada. He told me G4T no more is in business, but he launched a new visa agency named "Best Friend Visa" and is now located in Pruksa Ville 95, the new village near Big C on the Highway (not Big C extra but the other one down the road). It does everything the same way as G4T did before at the same price. For example retirement visa is 4900 Bahts including the 1900 Bahts visa fee. All services are at the same previous prices as with G4T...

Phone number is 0882944459 (I don't know if I'm allowed to give a PN here, if not thanks to the mod to delete it).

From what I understood, but not really sure, processing time for a retirement visa is a bit longer: you bring your papers today and get your appointment + passport and visa the next day...

Maybe I'll give him a visit a next day I'm in the area to better get the feel...

Cheers

 

Thanks both for your inputs, MJMTB and Bill, interesting indeed for a beginner...

 

MJMTB: Thank you very much for your warning about oven temperature indicators. You ringed a bell in my head last night when I saw your post. So today I prepared a fresh dough (a little bit wetter and with about 20% rye flour for test), kneaded it for more long time (about 20 min), let it grow, etc. Then I decided to bake it in my gas oven at full power (just to know), and... very nice bread after 40 min in the said oven. I suspect my temp gauge is not accurate at all (BTW I confess my oven is a neolithic piece of iron).

Yippiiiiiie!

 

Though, the loaf being crispy, with a slim crust and a souple crumb with a nice flavor and taste, the crumb shows again a "brioche" style texture:

No big bubble/hole. Next time I'll let it grow all night long before baking it the next day. Just to see...

 

For fun, and being busy in the kitchen I went to also bake (full oven power as well) some "brioches au beurre":

Perfect: exquisite recipe for the mid-afternoon coffee

Again, thank you for your warning MJMTB, I think I'm sorted out with my baking/oven problem...

 

billd766: thank you for this inviting bread recipe. I'll have to give it a try.

 

In fact I'm trying to get what we call in France "pain de menage" (something like "household bread" maybe). This was the basic "vintage" cheap/popular bread there to fulfill the workers' stomachs at lunch and diner. Nothing fancy, but a wonderful natural flavor and a delight with cheese or ham and butter (to my taste).

Here is the recipe I'm currently testing:

- All purpose flour: 300g

- Warm water: 180ml

- Salt: 4g

- Instant yeast (Fermipan): 3g (about 1% flour weight according to Fermipan specs)

- Sugar: 8g (sugar added thanks to MJMTB)

 

I think I'm now not too far away. Just getting a more "airy crumb" would be nice...

 

Thanks again for your kind help,

Ray

 

 

Thanks for the quick answer, MJMTB.

I think I'm a bit lost with all these different yeasts characteristics...

 

Anyway, today was my first attempt to bake bread with the brown Fermipan. At first a mini loaf (300g multi-purpose flour) just to get an idea, and things are not so "bad": good taste (to me), but maybe a little bit more salt next time; crust is slim and crispy and crumb is soft with a nice smelling (to me).

On the other hand, I made a mistake I think with the baking temperature. I began too low (180) and tried later to increase the temp (250) but too late I suppose my bread being close to be cooked: the crust doesn't show a nice tan color. Also maybe I didn't knead the dough enough, the crumb is more "brioche" style in appearance (not in taste): though the crumb is soft, there are no big holes at all.

Well at least happy with my first try (with butter and ham: yummy!). Next time I'll try to do better...

 

Thanks to all for your help and advice.

 

Again thanks to all for your inputs.

Finally, today I went to Makro for grocery shopping and found the yeast Fermipan Brown, 500gr, 117 Bahts. Pack is gold and brown.

To those who know: is it ok to bake home made bread? What does "brown" mean?

There was also Instant Success yeast, 500gr, 116 Bahts. Pack is blue and white.

Also, all purpose flour seems cheap to me at Makro. Prices begin at 27 bahts/kg. I took the Kite brand flour, 34Bahts/kg (I like the name ).

I think tomorrow I'll give it a try: my first ever attempt at bread baking...

Cheers.

 

 

Thanks all for your help

And thanks for the picture, Jdietz. As I know nothing about that (beginner here), this way I know what to look for on the shelves...

As well as I plan to give a visit to Yok (need some baking tools), I'll give a look at baker's yeast there too...

For now I'm playing at home cooking family-style (easy) cakes with baking powder. As that's fun, I'd like to go a bit further and bake my own bread

Again thanks to all...

Hi all,

I've the idea to make my own bread at home, but don't know where to buy "baker's yeast" in Chiang Mai.

Where can it be purchased?

Thanks in advance...

 

15 hours ago, CMBob said:

You missed my point.  Yes, going in on or prior to your expiration date will result in you getting 5 years from your expiration date and you'll get the same 5-year time period (starting from your expiration date) regardless of how many days prior to your expiration date/birthdate that you go in to get it done.  What I was pointing out was that you get 5 years from your next birthday if you go in after expiration.  That's what I (and many friends) have done in CM and we've essentially gotten an almost 6 year license (6 years less the number of days since your expiration/birthdate).  Maybe that's changed in the interim (it's been a year or so since I pulled that trick).

Ah! Oh! Errrr... Yes I completely missed your point, my bad. And now that I understand it, this may explain why my wife five years ago got a 6 years extension. As her birth date is on the 8th of August and mine on the 14th, five years ago we decided to apply for our 5 years to 5 years renewals both on the 10th of August (bills still in some folder here at home). As she applied 2 days after the expiring date she got a 6 years extension (less 2 days) until the 8th of August 2018, while I being 4 days before I only got a "regular" 5 years extension until the 14th of August 2017.

Great you made this point clearer to me CMBob. It well may explain the above...

Thanks for that.

 

 

My previous post above from July 27th could "drive" into big mistakes, sorry. So, please forget it, and as posted earlier by eyecatcher here is an official copy of the papers needed to apply for a 5 years to 5 years Driving Licence extension for foreigners:

 

 

 

As I had time yesterday, I asked and was explained by a lady officer the difference between Thai citizens and foreigners:

Thai citizens have just to bring their ID card and their previous DL card(s).

For Thai citizens a medical certificate is only mandatory for the first one year DL and the one year to 5 years renewal. After that no more medical certificate needed…

As well, for Thai citizens the time frame is 90 days before or after the expiring date. After that and up to one year only a special fee will be applied. After the one year expired Thai citizens have to go through a new but usual “theoretical signs and driving rules exam” (videos, dias and questions), the initial one being cancelled. If two years more then you go back to zero (exam + driving test)...

 

I asked the lady if the delays (90 days after the expiring date, one year, and so on) applied for foreigners. She answered a not so confident “yes” after a moment of hesitation. Like if she were not so sure. So not sure myself either, but…

 

As well she told me they processed about 500 application forms a day, including new DLs and DL extensions. Sure, that’s a lot!

 

Hi all,

My turn for a report for my 5 years to 5 years DL extensions (car + motorbike) yesterday Thursday the 3rd of August…

 

Previously, Residence Certificate from Immigration Office at Promenada, first floor room 7, done last Monday the 31st of July. Got it on Tuesday (so the next day) for 500 Bahts. A breeze...

 

Thinking all going rather efficiently from the recent above reports, I first quietly went to the Chiang Mai Klaimor Hospital (on the Hang Dong road about half way to the Transport Office from Airport Plazza) for my medical certificate (5 diseases DL medical check) at 10.30. No long queuing, efficient and kind staff, easy process. For foreigners 150 Bahts (80 Baths for Thais). Out at about 11 and something. Another breeze...

 

Time for lunch and coffee. Great breeze...

 

Then slightly before 1pm I arrived at the Transport Office with a confident smile. But there, end of the breezing time: the DL registering central computer was failing from time to time, extending processing and queuing (an apologizing sign on the information desk for the new commers). Sometimes during 5-10 minutes everything stops: no one was able to be called and/or processed…

At least, at 1.30 I was handled a queue card, did the Color Test, then all the foreigners (about 12) were sent to the video room for the famous one hour training video. No luck…

A little after 2.30 got back all my due papers and a new queue card for payment then picture and DL card delivery. Got the number 347 while at the time the number 208 was processed. Sigh…

At 5 and something my number was called. But because of some computer problem, as others experimented previously, the payment process was very slow though the lady officer was very kind and patient. Then picture and DL card delivery in a rush, staff beginning to be in a tired and “nervous” mood, but always kind and efficient…

Finally out with my 2 DL cards at about 5.30 pm...

To put it short it has been a global 4 hours process at the Transport Office alone, including a near 3 hours queuing time.

 

At least I’m now quiet for the next 5 years!

 

On 7/31/2017 at 3:21 AM, CMBob said:

Others had explained to me that there's no problem in going in after expiration (although I was unaware of the 3-month time limit for renewal) and, in fact, they advised me to do it as the new 5-year time period would run from my next birthdate.  And that's exactly what happened (went in two days after expiration and got a license good for 5-years, 363 days).

Hi CM bob,

Thanks for your input. But maybe things have changed or evolved...

I did yesterday, the 3rd of August, my 5 years to 5 years DL extensions (report below) with a 14th August expiring date (in fact my birth date), and my new DL cards show now the 14th of August 2022 as the new expiring date (not the 3rd). So I think there is no more "prejudice" doing it before in the 90 days time frame...

Well, I suppose

On 6/6/2017 at 11:45 AM, ttkeric said:

...

 

Wife told me that over here, if I were to allow my licenses to expire, they expire. Finito. Back to zero again. hence my Friday afternoon mad rush to the LTA. 

Hi,

I was a bit surprised with what you say here...

I already applied 2 times for a 5 years driver licence (car + motorbike) and each time I’ve been told “better to do it a little after the due date has expired” (but no explanation, just no worry). Have things changed?

As I and my wife have to renew our 5 Years DL next month, my wife called the Transport office this morning (Hang Dong road).

 

- Answer from the lady officer:

You have a 3 months window before and after the expiring date. Up to you to choose, no problem…

If more than 3 months after the due date, you don’t have you DL cancelled and you don’t have to go back from zero. You just have to pay a “special fee” (didn’t tell the amount)…

 

- Asking how long before the due date the medical certificate must be issued, answer from the same lady officer:

If you are going to apply for renewing a 5 years DL you don’t need a medical certificate. The medical certificate is only mandatory for the first one year DL, then the first 5 Years DL. After that, the medical certificate is no more needed…

 

Ah-ah-ah! A bit confusing, isn’t it?

Oh well… Better to take it easy...

BTW thanks all for your reports.

 

29 minutes ago, CMKiwi said:

I've tried some that was so salty that I couldn't eat it.  I never knew there were different types.

 

I don't think much of the newer type that's in red spirals....no real licorice flavour at all.

 

Licorice allsorts were all the go when I was a lad....

Yeah I remember all sorts of licorice candies at the bakery down my street when I was a kid. At least a dozen of different sorts and at a very cheap price. And many kids wandering around the shop...

 

20 minutes ago, mesquite said:

I wonder how the licorice on the left differs from what I used to get at Rim Ping...

These lozenges on the left are licorice too, but are quite softer in taste ( and very low sugar) and a bit salted in mouth. IIRC, in those days it was said to be a candy " to help digestion"...

 

I'm a fan of these "traditional" rolls too. When I was a kid I remember I unrolled it all and ate it while hanging down from my mouth with big suction sounds: slurp, sluuuuurp...

Strong eyes from my mother then...

 

 

2 hours ago, dingdongrb said:

Is the one pictured on the right licorice, as it looks more like Jelly-Bellies... 

Yes it's licorice with a sweet and crunchy "dragee coating". taste is more "raised" than the licorice rolls.

Not so good for the teeth I suppose, but so... aaaaahhhhh... yummy!

Ah-ah-ah! Just to make you salivating, Billy...

 

 

Purchased this morning from Big C Extra on the highway to Lampun near Index Mall.

80 Bahts/pack. Located in the candies/biscuits area...

 

Yum-yum!

On 6/13/2017 at 4:50 AM, kimamey said:

Yes you can work with a visa based on marriage but the work permit would still be needed. I think that's right anyway.

 

Thanks kimamey...

Ok, needing a WP means working for a company/business not in my own name. Mmmmh, I've the feeling that's going round in circles

Thanks anyway. I've to think more into this...