artbottomup

Anyone know of the availability of Futura Stone or other cement toppers in Nakhon Phanom?  Any info would be appreciated.  I'm tired of getting out the pressure washer to wash down the driveway & sidewalk areas after the rainy season.  Thanks.

I live in Nakhon Phanom and I've found miso paste in the refrigerated section (by tofu) at the Big C market. I've also picked it up at Top's Market when at Robinson's Mall in Mukdahan and Sakhon Nakhon. I haven't seen it at Lotus or Mackro though. Happy hunting...

Any thoughts about the "expected power outage during the maintenance of a gas platform in Myanmar April 5-14"? If they're expecting rolling blackouts in Bangkok, what can we expect in our neck of the North East woods? I live in Renu Nakhon, Nakhon Phanom and we already have enough of our share of power outages.

Does anyone have a phone number for the local That Phanom/Renu Nakhon city office that is responsible for village road repairs? The road to our home has more holes than pavement and I'm talking dangerously large and deep ones. A road crew came by a couple years ago and just threw some dirt in the potholes instead of repaving. Of course with the traffic including large trucks hauling dirt/rock/sand & the rainy season, the holes reappeared instantly. It's just a matter of time before an accident occurs since there is no way to avoid the holes now. My wife has been calling the government hotline in Bangkok for the past 3 years to no avail. The representatives have always told her that they'd forward the information to the responsible party in Nakhon Phanom. Right!!! They can't even provide her a direct phone number to call locally.

Thanks much for the info. I figured they'd cancelled flights but, I couldn't find any info on their website. Hopefully, they'll resume flights once Don Mueang opens in a few months. Until then, I guess it will be the long VIP bus ride or via Sakhon Nakhon airport.

Has Nok Air stopped flying in/out of Nakhon Phanom airport? I don't see any flight listings on their website. Also, can't get through when calling them as their automated system puts me on hold forever.

My understanding of the TMB account is you get the 2.5% from day one. There is no loss of interest if you withdraw the next day, 30 days later or 90 days later. Its an account with instant access, no minimum time the cash has to stay deposited and pays the same sort of interest SCB BBL give with their 12 month deposits acccounts.

Just opened an account to take advantage of this & can verify that this is correct. However, they only allow 2 withdrawls per month & my understanding is no limit per withdrawl. Also, it seems that interest is paid bi-annually in June & December.

Thanks so much Crossy. Your information & link is exactly what I need. I really appreciate it!

Greetings all. My monitor on my Samsung netbook is flickering madly & going on the blink just after the 1 year warranty has expired (of course!). Found out that others with the N120 model experienced this problem. Does anyone know any place in the Nakhon Phanom area (where I live) or Bangkok that could service or replace the monitor on Samsung netbooks? I seem to recall that Fortune Town has/had a Samsung service center but can't be sure. Thanks.

Totally false information above. A multi entry non immigrant O-A visa allows unlimited travel and entry into Thailand for the one year it is valid and each entry gets a new one year stamp from date of arrival.

Use of a re-entry permit with above would be self-defeating as you would only get a stamp to your last permitted to stay period rather than a new one year stay.

Well, I think you might be right & I got screwed using my 1st year of my multi entry OA visa. I went back to my original stamp & it does say "Good for multiple journeys to Thailand". What is interesting is that you're saying that each re-entry on this gets a new 1 year stamp? Are saying is that by doing this, you never will have to apply for a 1 year "Extension of Stay" permit, hence, never have to pay another immigration fee? If that's really true, I've really been screwed for all the Extension of Stays I've completed & paid for the past 3 years! Somehow, even for Thailand, this doesn't make sense...

The Nakhon Phanom Immigration told me that once my mylti entry OA visa's stamp's date expired, I would need to fill out an Extension of Stay good for 1 year. The extension of stay stamp itself says that "To keep your stay permit, re entry permit must be made before leaving Thailand." Hence, single or multiple Re-Entry Permit.

Aloha Jinxy1128. I also got a OA "Retirement" visa when I first moved to Thailand. I opted for one that was "good for multiple journeys". However, please understand that you will still need to get a "Multiple Re-entry Permit" to use in conjuction with your Multiple OA Visa if you plan to leave Thailand to visit other countries and return to Thailand.

For whatever sense it makes, the Multiple OA Visa only says that you are entitled to enter and leave Thailand multiple times. The Multiple Re-entry Permit gives you the actual authorization to do so.

I validated this at the main Immigration in Bangkok when I first arrived with only the Mulitple OA Visa. I was told that if I don't have a Multiple Re-entry Permit before leaving Thailand, my Multiple OA Visa would no longer be valid on my return to Thailand and I would need to enter on a tourist visa. Hence, start the OA Visa process all over again. I'm glad I checked. After my 1st year in Thailand, I've been paying for the annual extension and getting a new Multiple re-entry Permit at the same time. Do not let this lapse beyond the annual expiration date or you'll need to start all over again like a friend of mine had to do. What a pain! Lesson? Pay now and things will be smooth. Pay later as you'll start from scratch.

This may not all make rational sense, but I've come to accept "the Thai way or the highway" as a concession for living in this wonderful country.

Good grief! Incredible! There's so many more important things to focus on than criticism of a beautiful Thai representative. Come on...this is a beauty contest! If they want someone to be conservative, don't send anyone to represent Thailand in the Miss Universe contest. Instead, find a lady to enter the Miss Amish beauty contest!

That would be wonderful if it really happens for all schools nationwide. However, I wonder if the some 45,000 school to get wireless 3G internet includes those village schools in Isaan where even ADSL is not available and the only option is ipstar satellite slow internet connection? I live in a very rural area near one of these schools in Renu Nakhon, Nakhon Phanom where the cable infrastructure does not exist so no other option except satellite for the school & my home. Let's see if the 3G network truly covers all areas so rural schools will have this mandate fulfilled...

All Sportsworld stores sell these

Thanks for the info. I think this is the store I saw the basketball system on one of the upper floors at the large shopping mall in Udon Thani. However, I don't know of any Sports World store near Renu Nakhon, Nakhon Phanom. I can't seem to find their website for locations.

Wanting to get back in shape, I'm looking for a regulation all-in-one basketball system (pole, base, backboard & net system). I remember seeing it in Udon Thani but I live in Renu Nakhon so looking for a store that sells it preferably in Nakhon Phanom city where transportation/delivery can be arranged. Anyone know of a place that sells this in my neck of the woods?

The cost of helmets maybe one factor; you can get a decent/safe helmet for under 1K baht in Thailand. However, I think it's just the mindset of many Thais is that it's not cool to use them. Examples are the the many young girls riding their motorbike with one hand on the throttle & the other either holding up their jacket hoods over their face or holding an umbrella both to block the "skin darkening" sun as they value white skin...hmmm... A cultural thing since where I'm from, women (and men looking at them) cherish a nice sun tan.

Another example for the older generation, I gave brand new Honda helmets to my wife's parents & they sit on their shelf. In my observation, there's many more people in Isaan not wearing helmets as compared to Bangkok.

I agree that the only way to change "mindset" is to enforce the helmet law with no exceptions...that'll be the day it snows in Thailand!!!

I was there this past February & it took about an hour to get my additional visa pages for free. Make sure you fill out the appropriate form by going to: http://travel.state.gov/passport/fri/add/add_850.html

You'll also need to book your appointment online at http://bangkok.usembassy.gov/acsappointment.html & print your confirmation. No need to take a number when you get threre. Just walk up to the window, show them your confirmation, & hand in your passport & form. One thing to be aware of is that you'll need to check-in your mobile phone at the entrance so bring another photo ID (e.g., driver's license) that you'll need to leave with your cell phone. The whole process should be a breeze. However, be cautious on the status of the red shirt protestors who may be around the US Embassy area/Lumpini Park. Good luck.

Thanks so much Brigante7. I'll take your wife's suggestion & try the area near the school. Wish me luck...

Thanks much all for your info! I drove through Nakhon Phanom City a few weeks ago but just could not find any obvious store that specialized in baby things. I guess I'll just have to load up on things when I get back to USA & settle on Lotus for the larger items. Really would like to find a nice crib other than what I've seen at Lotus. Oh well...

Happy New Year's 2010...a new decade begins in 4 hours & counting down....

Wow! Sometimes I am just blown away by the lack of sensitivity of some comments. Let's just focus on hopes & prayers that those injured recover quickly & fully.

Happy holidays! Wondered if anyone knows of baby stores in Nakhon Phanom, Sakhon Nakhon, and/or Mukdahan that has in stock items like baby cribs, car seats, strollers, high chairs, etc...? I'm looking for stores other than the usual Tesco Lotus that carry good quality and reasonable priced goods. I'd appreciate any info you can provide such as store name, location, phone number... Really appreciate it.

I posted this inquiry in the "Fishing in Thailand" forum but no responses so hope it's ok to post here as well for an answer. I have a friend in Nakhon Phanom who just bought a small boat to do a little fishing in the Mekong River. He's very interested to find a fish finder (sonar) without having to go down to Bangkok, Phucket, etc... Does anyone know of any place in Isaan (preferably close to Nakhon Phanom) that sells this product? Any leads would be much appreciated. Thanks.

I have a friend in Nakhon Phanom who just bought a small boat to do a little fishing in the Mekong River. He's very interested to find a fish finder (sonar) without having to go down to Bangkok, Phucket, etc... Does anyone know of any place in Isaan (preferably close to Nakhon Phanom) that sells this product? Thanks.

If this is the same snake farm on the grounds of the Red Cross Hospital, I took my son there last month & it's definitely well worth it. They have a covered outdoor exhibit area & they have an excellent 2 floors snake exhibit inside the air conditioned building. They have a morning venom milking show inside a little theater & a snake handling show outside in the afternoon. Hours are 9:30am to 3:30pm Mon thru Friday & 9:30 to 1pm on weekends & holidays. The admission cost for a farang is 200 baht but I used my Thai driver's license to get the local Thai resident cost of 50 baht. Don't even try to negotiate the farang price unless you are a true resident of Thailand. Anyhow, a surprsingly good snake exhibit well worth the nominal cost. Very different than the Chiang Mai snake farms which focus more on the snake handling show than the snake exhibits themselves. Enjoy...

It was heavy rain for a couple hours this morning in Renu Nakhon, Nakhon Phanom followed by a hot sunny day then ending this afternoon in a heavy downpour for an hour...