bamboozled

Hmm, how about concrete blocks and that polyurethane spray foam "Great Stuff" instead of mortar? Pretty unsightly, however. Probably not any easier to remove than the mortar itself. Speaking of, how difficult is it to remove mortar from a cement floor in the case that I used it like glue to cement blocks down...if that would work?

I thought of that....just keeping everything up and off the floor. But it's a lot of stuff. I'm not talking about a few boxes. And then I did not want to have all that moisture lingering underneath everything which would just make mold and mildew a bigger issue and potentially ruin everything I'm storing. Any experience with sandbags?

Truth there....but that doesn't solve the rest of the problem!

Top of a Sunday morning to y'all. So, I would like to make the carport where I live into a storage area. I'm in a rented house so no permanent structure desired. It is a sturdy structure already with a pretty decent roof, concrete floor, and some uprights keeping the roof up. The roof will need a few cracks mended to keep out water but I think fairly simple with some caulking. The items in storage will be in plastic containers in plastic bags so I think they will be protected from water, dirt, and insects, for the most part. I also have birds and cats that could make problems. I am thinking plastic tarping and perhaps some chicken wire for the sides to keep out rain and animals....with some reinforcing uprights at various intervals to give the tarps some resistance against wind and weather. This seems to my mind to be the easiest and cheapest method and still substantial enough. The biggest problem I foresee is that in big rains the yard floods and though the carport is raised a bit it can still flood sometimes in big storms as much as 6 inches. How to keep the flood water out? What can I construct around the bottom perimeter of the carport to accomplish this that is not permanent? I could make a foot high barrier with blocks and concrete and it would probably easy enough to remove but I'm sure would still leave some traces behind. Granted, the area is not in perfect condition but if the landlords come by and see that, even if removable, they might be unhappy (they rarely rarely come by but still). I thought sand bags, perhaps? I'm not sure how well they work. Anyone have input on this? Ideas much appreciated. I'm looking to do it cheap and cheerful so please keep that in mind. A thousand thanks in advance.

In and out in 5 minutes. Thank you very much, Mahseer, for your information. You made this so smooth and quick and easy. I appreciate it. Yes, "Diamond" was on the ball and it was a very pleasing experience. I paid 500 and will be back tomorrow to pick it up. Thanks again!

You. Are. The. Best. Much obliged! I'll let you know how it goes.

Right...the tent. THE TENT! Ugh. I had forgotten about the tent.

Will be giving it a whirl tomorrow. So you're telling me I have to wait neither in the line nor in the crowd? And a diamond at the top of the stairs? Score!

Hmm, is she at a particular window in that case? Or I suppose I'll automatically be directed to her. You've piqued my interest...

Thank you, sir!

I know this has been done to death but the search is useless, more or less. Is this to be had now at Immi next to the airport? And it's still free but free comes with a long wait and a frown otherwise 500 baht and done the next day....something like that? I need to transfer my car from my wife's name to mine. Oh, and I'm on a year validity, multi-entry, Non-O to visit Thai wife. Any other hurtles to expect? I know this has to be done together at the Land Transport. office. Cost anyone? Thanks!

...Thought of something while going about the day. Is there a place to leave my Rolls Royce while I cross into Laos? Is there a large parking lot, by chance, at Thai immigration in Chang Khong?

Thanks, fellas!

This is also useless to the OP or to anyone, for that matter, but I can't help myself. Whenever I see the name Kalasin my heart gives a little pang for a past Kalasinian lady-love. Gosh how those feelings linger... She might yet be a sight worth seeing if you're game.

My first stop for health stuff is Rajavej because I have found them effective, for the most part, both for price and advice. Not all nurses speak English but the doctors do. If I don't get satisfaction there, I broaden my circle. There is an English speaking liason who you can make an inquiry with by email. Here is the address: [email protected] If that gets redacted, just google the hospital and you can find the contact info. Plus, they have two letter "j"s in the name and that has to count for something!

Thank you kindly!

Great, thanks BritTim. I assumed so but I don't have experience doing such a thing with the Laos border so thought it best to check. Heck, I'd rather stay a few days but not sure I can spare the time. I saw that Monday is a holiday. I don't suppose that has any bearing on a border crossing, does it? Could be busier, I reckon, but not closed, yes?

So the 90 days on my Non-O multi entry are just about up and next week I will have to leave the country to avoid overstay and get a new stamp in my passport upon re-entry to Thailand. I'm in CM and planning to cross from Chang Khong to Huay Xai with a Laos visa on arrival. Do I need to stay the night in Laos or can I turn right around and come back to Thailand, such as was always the case Mae Sai/Tachilek? Many thanks!

Very close to being ruined. The train from China is ready and waiting. Only China hasn't opened the border, yet, as far as I know. But the train already runs from Vientiane to the Chinese border and the whole line is functional through to...Kunming I think it is? Once it opens, "relaxing place" is but a memory. That's just the way it is.

True enough....I'll most likely be heading there later this month. Just a longer, more expensive, trip. Of course, at that point, I might have to hang my hat in Luang Prabang for a spell or thrice.

Yeah, this is the engine I had in mind. So that little thing, an engine the same size as my Mazda 3, can power this beast at a respectable clip? I'm not familiar with 170kw. It's such a tough looking truck you would think it drank a lot and spewed exhaust like a song taew.

So how much of a dog was that 4 banger?

I never quite understood the Ford Raptor. I know little about it but it's a tough looking truck. But on the side of the car it says it is a 2.2 liter engine, is that not correct? I couldn't ever imagine it had any power. Though it LOOKS like it has power, there's no replacement for displacement.

E-visa is $10 more expensive and only allows entry at certain border points, not all. So if you change your mind about where you will enter you might be out of luck. I actually tried to get the E-visa but my credit card was rejected and payment methods are limited. Good luck.

Oh.....you know....come to think of it, I might have taken it all the way to the Savannakhet bus station. I guess I had been thinking of a previous trip where I grabbed a taxi. I was the last person to get back on the bus as the immigration was still closed when I arrived so early and I had to wait while they called someone. The officer also asked me for 100 baht for some reason. I assume it was just because he could and grabbed some pocket money. I paid it since it was small money and I didn't want to make any problems....of course.