Paagai

Same experience as elektrified. As part of a deal, our Landlady committed to install three A/C units. She tried to pull a fast one and installed second hand units, just complete junk, apart from the inefficiency and electricity cost which shouldn't be underated.

After many attempts to get them working properly she gave up and installed modern new ones. If a Thai can't make a sucess out of it a farang stands little chance......

P.S. trying to mix and match only part of the system sounds like a double road to trouble.

Interesting. Seems like the last thing to do in Chiang Mai is have a Cheese and Wine Party

Somehow, investing in Chiang Mai is always a risks. The pricing must be very competitive!

Seems to me that those who try to compete on price are the first to fail. Two a penny.

Those restaurants that succeed typically have something unique about their product and maintain a high level of quality. They then charge a premium price for it. It can take a couple of years to build up the kind of clientele and reputation needed for a really profitable business here. So many don't have the cash to go the distance!

I've heard it explained that way as well. Usually from Chiang Mai (to make this relevant) staff.

One of my sources was Thai staff: hence the Not always known to be reliable!

Other than that the Act is not specific about how a monthly salary would be caculated or I've missed it.

I've never seen anything in the Labour Protection Act about a paid day off a week. Lots of other rules and regulations about holidays and working on holidays.

I'd like to know if anyone else knows anything about this.

The only corroboration I'd seen was (from a translation Of Labour Protection Act. B.E. 2541) :

Section 56. An Employer shall pay Wages to an Employee equivalent to Wage of a Working Day for the following Holidays:

(1) a weekly holiday, except for an Employee who receives Wages calculated on a daily, hourly or piece rate basis;

(2) a traditional holiday; and

(3)annual Holidays.

But, as you point out, there are a myriad of regulations, so I may be stating this out of context, or it may be overridden by something else. Of course, as set out this would only apply to staff paid a fixed monthly salary.

I'm wondering how you came to the about 7650 Baht a month conclusion? Work days in a month are 26, 26 times 251 equals 6526 Baht a month.

6 work days in a week times 251 equals 1506 Baht a week times 52 weeks a year divided by 12 months is 6526 Baht a month.

Don't get me wrong, even 7650 Baht a month is not enough to live on. Just wondering how you came to the 7650 number?

It was based on what others have told me, but I have no official source to confirm that it's right.

My understanding of the calculation (which I accept may be totally wrong) for previous minimum wage is: 171 Baht times 365 Days divided by 12 months is 5200 per month. Apply the same logic, or the same percentage increase gives 7650. It was explained to me that, under Thai employment law staff get one PAID day off per week, i.e. they are paid for 7 days per week but only work six. Given who explained it to me , this may well not be correct. Confirmation or otherwise would be welcome!

Does this wage increase stipulate any worker requirements, education etc...?

AFAIK this is just the basic minimum. There are some higher minimums specified for certain trades/skills but don't know what these are for Chiang Mai.

What is the current minimum, how much has it gone up?

Previous was 171 Bt/day or 5200 Per month so about a 47% increase on the previous rate.

As I understand it, the basic daily minimum wage in Chiang Mai will increase to 251 Bt per day from 1 April (or about 7650 Bt).

That will put quite a few basic staff's current wages under the limit, even many currently paid more than minimum wage. Source: http://www.mol.go.th/en/employee/interesting_information/6319

Interested to know what effect this will have on business owners here. Is it going to have an effect or has the high season been so great that no one minds paying extra?

Take a trip up Chang Puek Road from, Chang Peuk Gate. In the two soi's on the left between Chang Peuk Soi 4 (the lights by the white elephant monument) and the Mecure hotel there is a whole cluster of print shops (maybe 20-30), and more in Soi 5 on the right opposite Mecure.

Further up Chang Puek at the next lights (Rajapat intersection) turn left and there's a big shop 75M down on the right. They've done work for us and I was told they print City Life so they can't be too bad One I wouldn't recommend is "Friend Sign", they're OK for signs but have had problems with their printing.

Been to spicy twice, once as a "I've heard waaaay too many crazy stories to not go". I promised I never would return. A few years later I did, and while they cleaned it up a bit, I quickly remembered why I promised I would never return. There are much better clubs to stay out at til 5-6am.

Where? And not Lucky please.

I couldn't possibly tell you......... but it is true that gay people get to have much more fun in this town

And where is this place ? always willing to try someplace new

Directly across from the Shell gas station just west of Kad Suan Kaew on Huay Kaew Road. http://www.wikimapia...08&z=18&l=0&m=b

No it ain't! It's in the next block, about 200M SE of where you describe! Same block as TMB Bank, and Soho Bar, actually opposite the Orchid Hotel.

The block opposite Shell has Lemon Tree (Thai Food), Salsa Kitchen(Mexican), Pern's restaurant (Mediterranean) - all great places to eat. There's also a cheap Sushi place.

I've never seen her smile either, but I can totally sympathise with the waitress at Amazing sandwich. Whilst the food is not bad (average but cheap), I don't enjoy going to places where groups of people talk VERY loudly about how they love and worship their imaginary friend with no respect for other who maybe there. They even bring their own screaming babies and brats with them (totally disproving the baby theorem ). I voted with my feet. Salsa kitchen has the same affliction, but I only go when it's empty and there's no risk of bombardment from the pulpit.

To make a long story short: he is not interested.

I've heard several "long Stories" recently about Condo management issues and lawyers.

Sadly, it seems most lawyers don't want to get involved. The people who built/run the condos are often well connected and can bring pressure to bear on the lawyers, land office, amphur officials etc. You are likely on a hiding to nothing......

Makro Hang Dong yesterday had plenty of choice for Diet/zero coke etc.

The latest casualty is Tonic Water, can't find it anywhere (including the Mom and Pop stores in Santitham)

Makro, Hang Dong Rd has had a delivery of Schweppes Tonic. I bought 3 cases. there seemed to be plenty left.

meeting new people is easy in Chiang Mai; the only problem is to pick which ones you want to know.

Maybe the most accurate and succinct summary of living in Chiang Mai ever written.....

Many website companies out there, but can they make your site be seen on a search ? You should ask them what they do to give your site a better chance of being found.

That's the real question...

A valid point, but you can't take quite such a simplistic approach. A large part of good SEO practice (Search Engine Optimisation) is the content itself. Gone are the days when a list of keywords and good description were all it takes.

Writing good web content is a skill, particularly English language content. If you provide a local company with your own content and have them do the design/graphics, your search engine ranking will be significantly dependent on how good what you gave them was in the first place. Nice graphics might look pretty but this ain't considered by search engines. IMHO you firstly need very clear objectives of what you want to achieve with a website. I see so many sites where businesses seem to have a web site for the sake of it, rather than to fulfill specific goals. Secondly, you need someone to help you produce good content, as well as make it pretty. Unless native English speakers, those skills are hard to find locally.

Makro Hang Dong yesterday had plenty of choice for Diet/zero coke etc.

The latest casualty is Tonic Water, can't find it anywhere (including the Mom and Pop stores in Santitham)

Last time I mailed it, I followed the simple instructions on Thai immigration website which includes the form to download (word document with several pre-defined fields). You mail it to Bangkok, not Chiang Mai. IIRC there was a statement confirming uptheos point that the SAE must be to the same address as on the form.

The receipt came back within three days and had a return address stamped on the envelope which was Chiang Mai immigration.. Rather impressive service since the area around Cheang Wattana Immigration was flooded at the time!

oh no!!

I really like business class Bangkok to Taipei on KLM (very reasonable price also compared to TG and others).....

I share your dismay, couldn't agree more. Have used this service many times, just discovered this thread after trying to book it in April

I thought back in the old days the reason for no direct flights from Europe to Taipei is Taiwan bound flights could not overfly China. Clearly no longer an issue.

If only they had Greggs here,bet you could murder a bacon ,stottie sandwhich,

regards Worgeordie

Awwww, What memories......

There's an OK bike shop on Chang Puek Road, run by an older Thai-Chinese guy who seems knowledgeable, is helpful and does repairs too. From Chang Puek Gate head North, it's on the left after about 250-300M, a bit before the bridge over a small klong.

My first bike here was about 5K from Tesco Lotus; fell apart within six months Most annoying was a lot of the parts were non standard so it was difficult to fix.

this is an old rule in Thailand (Thailand is the worse country for that kind of rip-off anywhere in asia) since many years:

NEVER let them charge your home currency. ALWAYS insist on being charged the local currency, otherwise there is ALWAYS a 3% mark-up on the conversion rate.

particularly great in ripping-off guests that way are ALL Home-grown Thai Hotel chains such as Centara, Amari etc.....

but as well retail-chains such as Asia-Books. NOK AIR's Airport-Counter tried the same lately.

and until about two years ago or so, the Mark-up at all Supermarkets of THE MALL - Group (The Mall, Emporium, Paragon) was no less than 10 (ten) % !!!!! But luckily they stopped this disturbing policy.

If your home currency is printed on the slip, take a pen and SCRATCH IT OUT manually and manually CIRCLE the amount in Thai Baht (or whatever is the home currency where you make your purchase).

Don't agree that Thailand is always the worse at scamming. I had this happen at a five star hotel in Seoul, Korea, from a very reputable international chain. When I queried why the credit card amount was in USD and asked them to change it to Won they refused and showed me the clause in their T&Cs saying this was their policy. They wouldn't budge as I'd signed to accept the T&Cs when checking in!

Rarely use the CC in Chiang Mai; cash seems less hassle. When I do use CC I always specify Thai Baht when handing the card over and have only once had a problem. That was at the sports goods floor in KSK, at first they refused to change it but relented when i started to walk away......

Another point, I have a UK issued AMEX card, because of the way AMEX works, when they try this the charge amount comes out in USD rather than the billing currency of GBP so you would loose twice!

"I would think a concrete floodwall about two meters high....."

Posted Today, 09:14

I would not miss LK or any of the girlie bars there, if it was ever shut down.

Hundreds maybe thousands of bars in and around Chiang Mai and at half the price and nicer girls.

I just don't get the attraction to LK.

are you taking about the night clubs with the young thai set, who could care less to talk to farang older guys. if not where are these bars, give some names and locals please

If you are an ex-pat living here then why not go to an area where the locals go and meet some much nicer (and younger and more attractive) girls? I'm not talking about Warm Up, Fabrique or places like that.

and where would that be?

WTK answered that well with Santitham. Packed full of local places to go. Also heading east from Santitham around Rajaphat university all the way to JJ market, Hulamphong etc. There's also Suan Luang (SP?) which is very popular now.

I find these days a trip to the Loi Kroh/Thapae area is becoming more of a rarity, accompanied with that "get me outta here" feeling when ever I do venture out.

Thought that was the Rajapat Clap Clinic?

I use Siam Raj (Superhighway/Kuangsingh - same building as Chiang Mai Dental Hospital) for that kind of stuff. Taken several flotsam there with various injuries, no questions asked.

Nicky's new place at Mae-Rim is called The Orchid and its on the main road that goes to the X-center, Elephants etc. Its before the turn to the four seasons on your left.

I used to really enjoy his pizza at Guitarman, and he is making pizza at his new place - I am sure it will be great.

I liked his pizza too. Now a days it seems really hard to find good pizza. I had really bad pizza at a popular place not long ago. Any recommendations for a good place?

One closer to town.

I believe the guy who used to work at Guitar man making Pizza went to make pizza at a new place in Santitham area, somewhere near Grand View Hotel.