neilrob

The concert was well worth going to. Even Rasseru would have thoroughly enjoyed the piano and cello pieces, which were beautifully played. Thank you to all involved in putting it on. However, I sympathize with Peace Blondie about the map. I only found the concert because I threw the map away and used a commercial map of CM instead. It seems amazing that it is possible to produce a map to somewhere which is fundamentally easy to find which is so poor---out of scale, half in English and half in Thai and misleading in either language, particularly in Thai, and missing out obvious easy landmarks. On second thoughts, a big thank you to all involved, except whoever drew the map!

Neil

I live about 1.5 km from Rimping (towards Carrefour) and I certainly felt the explosion. The whole house shook like a brief earthquake, although there was little noise where we are.

Neil

Hello.

I have a pool with a salt water chlorination system. When I read the user manual, it seems to stress quite strongly that a stabiliser should be introduced to reduce "strain" on the system and reduce salt consumption. However all the local pool guys seem to regard this as unecessary and that's even if they've heard of it! Any opinions from anyone please?

Cheers.

Conditioner (cyanuric acid) is very helpful in stabilising the chlorine level. It is not a matter of salt consumption, since salt is not consumed by the system. Rather, it is a matter of using the pump/chlorinator much less and thus saving electricity and wear on the system. I was amazed at the level of ignorance of my pool contractor (JD Pools, one of the biggest in Thailand) about this.

Neil

The Elizabethan is worth trying. Unless a lot of people do try it then it hasn't much chance of survival I think, given its location and the limited market. It would be a pity if they do go under, since the owners are obviously really trying hard to do the best they can.

Neil

Dear All,

Is there a problem to stay with non-B without a work permit?

My visa and work permit will be expired at the end of December.

My boss told me that it's not possible to extend my work permit.

But if I need to stay here more, he will provide me the papers to get non-b for 3 more months.

After 3 months I plan to leave Thailand.

So I have to go to Vientiane before my visa expire to get non-b again (this is the 3rd time for me).

Do you think there is a problem to get the visa and to stay here without work permit.

I will be working until my last visa expire.

Thanks in advance for you answer.

htikhalain

I stayed in Thailand for a year (leaving and returning before 90 days were up each time) with a non-B without a work permit. I came here intending to work, then changed my mind. I expected there might be problems when I came back in again every time, since a non-B is a working visa and therefore supposed to be accompanied by a work permit, but no one ever asked about it. So I think you will have no problem. Neil

Hi MyPenRye,

My vote for what CM most needs is development control. The old city, within the moat, should be a World Heritage site---it certainly has the historical/cultural/architectural interest to justify this. This would make CM more attractive to tourists, using its unique character and history as a selling point. However, the lack of control over what has been built and done there has damaged it substantially in the last three decades since I first saw it. It is not too late to try and reverse this by encouraging appropriate building styles, getting the cars out of the temples (as a previous poster suggested), reducing the impact of hoardings etc., encouraging inappropriate businesses like car showrooms to move to the Superhighway or ring roads etc. I am not suggesting closing down the restaurants, bars etc. (or used book stores), which give character, but instead trying to reduce (and eventually get rid of), large modern buildings, so that the old city is once again dominated by temples and historic landmarks.

Missed you at tennis!

Neil

Good post, farang prince, and more supportive/tactful than previous posts. Neil

You might be disappointed by the show, if you can find it. I've seen a couple of "motor shows" in CM, one at Carrefour and one at Kad Suan Kaew. Both consisted of some mostly unremarkable cars parked around inside or in front---nothing exotic or unusual unfortunately. Certainly nothing like the Bangkok show. Maybe this one will be better, if we're lucky. Neil

If u really want to avoid all the things mentioned here then don't live in Chiang Mai - it's now more polluted than Bangkok and the traffic is nowadays about as bad in some parts.

I live in CM and this description of the city bears no relationship to the truth. I accept your argument that Bangkok has some things to be said in its favour, but such exaggerated mischaracterizations of CM undermine your argument rather than help support it.

Neil

Try the website for Kiatnakin Bank. They have lots (probably hundreds in total) of condos for sale under 300K, including some under 200K, as well as more expensive ones. These are presumably foreclosed properties. Since I can't spell out a direct link here, the website address is kkasset followed by com.

Neil

Timothy poses a really good question. I'm in a position where I can look at it from two viewpoints. On the one hand, my main relationship is with an educated Thai professional, and it has endured for more than 30 years. So I know first hand that such relationships are possible. However, the relationships I've had on the side (with the agreement of my partner) have always been with Asians who are younger, less educated, much less well off etc. Furthermore, if I look within myself and imagine that I were single, I think it would be the same. At my age, it is less effort maybe, easier to control certainly. I don't have to make such an effort to please such a partner (although I always prefer to please if I can), because he is getting other things out of the relationship, such as money, support etc. Practically speaking, I think the OP has to be patient and keep looking. But better would be to get a posting back to the UK---if you were openly looking there, you would find yourself very desirable---the farangs who come to live here, on average, have different desires for a relationship than those who stay home.

I'm having problems with fine dust in my pool that passes the filters. In the US, this was never a problem, because I'd put in a few ounces of clarifier which caused the particles to be caught by the filter very quickly. The clarifier I used was Leslies Clear Brite (but also sold under different names by other companies). It is a dark blue liquid, and only a few ounces fixes the problem. I can't find it in Chiang Mai. I tried Clear Trine from World Chemical Far East here, but it is useless. Does any one know of a source in Thailand?

Thanks, Neil

I agree with Aussietraveller. Contrary to the apparent intention of the original poster, this thread has given me a higher opinion of the Walen school. When I saw the ads, I assumed it was a visa mill. Having read the comments, I would be very inclined to try the school, were it not that I live in Chiang Mai, not Bangkok. Neil

I reserve the right to ignore any random farang who approaches me thinking I'm a freaking tour guide or information centre.

Hmm. I've met no more than one or two unfriendly farangs in my year in Chiang Mai, and a large number of friendly, interesting people, both farangs and Thais. However, this poster sounds like an addition to the unfriendly camp. To my way of thinking, ignoring people who approach you with a question is simply rude, whether they are farang, Thai or whatever.

I went there today for the first time, to apply for a retirement visa (instead of my current, soon expiring Non-B visa, which I got from the consulate in Los Angeles).

When you say "visa," I'm assuming you mean 'extension of stay(?)' So, if you were here on a 1-year extension based on your Non-B "visa" and a work permit -- and this extension is what is about to expire -- then CM effectively renewed your current 1-year extension, albeit now using 'retirement' vice 'work' criteria. So, yes, the dates make sense, if this is the situation.

I guess there's no reason why a Non Imm B can't be extended on 'retirement' criteria. The existence of a valid work permit, however, would queer the scene, since work ain't allowed under retirement criteria. Did you have to show a canceled WP?

Or am I still not connecting the dots?

You are absolutely right---it is really an extension of my former visa but now on a retirement basis. So I was using "retirement visa" loosely. I have never had the Non-B extended as a Non-B. It "expired" in late August, a year from when I received it (I put "expired" in quotes since the year was up and I could not re-enter on the visa). However, I had a stamp in my passport with the usual 90 day permission to stay from when I last crossed a border in late July (before the visa "expired"). This stamp would have expired in late Oct, and they dated the extension from then, which is what surprised me.

As for a work permit, I've never had one because, although I came here intending to work, I changed my mind once I got here and decided not to bother. I thought someone might ask to see my work permit when I came through a border after foreign travels (since a Non-B visa is supposed to be a work visa and the holder presumably therefore should have a work permit to go with it). However, no one ever did. Also, no one at Immigration this time asked about what work I had been doing and whether or not I had a work permit, and if not, why not. Again this seemed a bit strange, but I'm not complaining.

Hope this makes sense, Neil

I walked out with a one year (actually almost 13 months) visa stamped in my passport.

Could you elaborate on that please. I can't quite connect the dots (but that's true for a lot of things).

They ran the visa for a year from when the last entry stamp in my passport would expire, late this month, rather than running it from yesterday, when I got the visa. This is probably normal, but surprised me. That is why I've got almost 13 months from now. Hope this makes sense.

Neil

I would just like to say a word of praise for the Immigration Office here in CM. I went there today for the first time, to apply for a retirement visa (instead of my current, soon expiring Non-B visa, which I got from the consulate in Los Angeles). I have heard a lot of negative stories recently about visa problems. At the very least, I thought I would have to wait a long time and probably have to come back after they had considered my application for a couple of weeks. I was treated most politely. Only one hour after I walked into the office with a stack of documents and copies, I walked out with a one year (actually almost 13 months) visa stamped in my passport. Thank you, CM Immigration for quick and efficient service.

Neil

i think you are living in a dream world...even within the same culture, 50% of relationships hit the skids at some point!!! what did guru say today...that the thai rate (inter-thai i assume) is now 27%. what do you think the odds are for alien culture relationships in the long term??

take off the bliders...enjoy thailand and thai boys but stay single. much more fun and no headaches too

There is nothing unrealistic about my comments. My Thai partner and I have been together for almost 33 years now and still counting---we met when we were both in our twenties. Both of us enjoy some lust on the side and the various opportunities that Thailand offers, but it is the love which endures. Even if a loving relationship does eventually finish, as many will, this does not mean that the relationship was not worthwhile. Better to have loved and lost....

Neil

i think you should just continue to make money in farangland and come here on vacation and have the company of many rent-boys. even me, who have lived here years still prefers to take my choice any given nite of the week. keeps things nice and easy and fun and no muss no fuss. also keeps the butt-boys in their place

To the last poster, it is possible to fall in love, not just in lust. Having tried both, in the long run love is much more satisfying for me. If you read what he says in his posts, I think that this would also be true for the OP.

Gabriel---please can you update us on what's happening?

As I said before, from all you have written in your posts, I think you have found yourself a treasure. Trust him and follow your desire to be with him. Neil

true blue, these gentlemen have a point. Your posts are not intelligible; we don't know what you're on about. Cannot figure out if you're speaking in some weird dialect, or if English is your third language, or if you don't know how to punctuate, or whether you only post when you're drunk.

Could you perhaps please start over and phrase your thoughts in complete sentences, ending either with full stop or a period? Thank you.

I am also interested in such a condo (and furthermore, I can punctuate!) If anyone has a studio condo for sale on the Doi Suthep side of Hillside 4, floor 10 or above, please PM me. Thanks, Neil

We went to Eakachai house boat last week. It seems to be the furthest from the boat dock---not much further than the others, but more private. The food was good to very good. We did not stay there, but I saw one of the rooms and it looked clean and reasonably comfortable. I would certainly go back. Phone number is 081 950 9420. Hope this helps. Neil

This thread seems to be diverging from the original subject---so back to furniture. There is a shop on Kaew Nawarat road that sells beautifully made real wood furniture in classic Western styles. The prices are not cheap, but seem to me to be very good value, not much more than you would pay for particle board/laminate furniture at many places. I've bought several items there and they are a pleasure to own. The shop is almost opposite the main entrance to Prince Royal's College. There is a language school called EFL almost next to it. EFL is quite easy to find and the furniture shop is on the same side, just a little further from the city centre. Neil

I ate there about a month ago. I thought it was among the worst meals I've had in Thailand---not even good value for the low price. Neil

The CM Expats club has a G/L Friends special interest section, with approx 20 members. As the Expats name implies, the section is mostly, but not entirely, farang. It would be good to have something more mixed asian/non-asian, as I believe is the aim of the LYC. Maybe the G/L Friends could help form part of the nucleus of a new club (I think most members would be interested in a wider group). Please send me a message when you're back in town, so we can discuss further. I look forward to hearing from you, Neil