noise

Foe me, they all have some drawbacks... Just my thoughts, others will disagree!

Greenside articulated my impressions better than I could have. And my first thought echoed Greenside's first comment (I think) about "what is the important element in the shot"? I thought these were tourist shots (I am here with a camera, there she is, everything is colorful, take a picture).

Planning an easy-going trip up north and was hoping to get some suggestions for guest houses between Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai. Hopefully something in a scenic area. Off the main (HWY 118) road by 20 minutes or so is fine. All help appreciated.

Try the Mae Chan Winery and resort http://www.maechanwinery.com/

Here is a quote from an email they sent me:

We have the valley tour twice a day at 10.00am and 2.00pm. ....We also can set up the private tour for your group. The minimum persons is 6 persons. The cost per person is 250 baht per person. This includes wine testing, vinyard tour, winery tour, tea plantation tour, tea testing, gem cutting factory tour and all transport within the valley.

The resort guests are normally discounted for the valley tour. The cost per person is 200 baht per person.

Anyone want to drive up as a Thai Visa-Visa run ....?

Is a day trip like that worth doing for only a 2 week visa?

http://www.thaivisa.com/latest/thai-immigr...foreigners.html

the arch support insoles ........ anyone have any idea of where and/or how i can get any?

I went to orthpaedics at Chiangmai Ram, Dr Tasaporn, with plantar facitiis and he said he could refer me to the specialist that would make me support insoles if I wanted them. I elected to try just letting my foot heal by itself (which it did), so I can not give you more detailed information. But you could probably get the same referral by just asking and not incurring a bill for a visit.

Thanks Garyh. I'm also an Australian citizen (when the crickets on ). I might just go through the Australian embassy. I wonder if it matters that I'm resident in NZ currently?

And if you ever foresee living in Thailand, the Thai license is a handy document to have.

We are trying to get rid of a couple of unwanted frog tenants from our pool filter. By trial and error we are sealing up the entrance points but in the meantime we forcibly evict them but without fail they are back by the morning.

Does anybody have any idea how far I would have to take them before they couldn't find their way back? Or any humane ways of discouraging them?

I think tw25rw has the right approach. I have a pair of tennis shoes I use in the garden that are so dirty I leave out in the car port. Toads seem to want to hide in them during the day unless I put the mentholated "icey" body powder in them.

So since yours get in the filter, which I assume is an open container of some kind, can you suspend chlorine pellets or some such pool chemical in there to make the air "toxic" to them?

Hi there,is it possible for non thais to get an enty into the housepapers[tabian ban],and if yes what is required?My gf bought a condo and I would like to appear in the housepapers

As thanyaburimac said, you can get your own yellow Tabien Baan. When I got mine for our house which is in my wife's name, I got a certificate of residency from immigration (I believe you have to get that from your embassy/consulate now) and took that, my passport, copy of marriage license (don't know it was required but I had it and they took it) along with my wife, her blue Tabien Baan, and ID card to the amphur. Process was straight forward from there; no question about it being authorized or not. I really think the marriage license helped.

As JetsetBkk said, this is a useful document to use many places. I have even used it as back up to my driver's license to get in places at the local rate rather than paying tourist fees.

Start today until Dec. 10, 2008.

Part of the 75th anniversay of Mae Jo Univ and is on the university grounds. Went by on the 3rd as they were setting up and saw furniture booths, pottery/china from Lampang booths, etc. So it appears like more than just a farm fair. Probably like a typical county fair in the U.S.

Do you think anyone really gives a shiit?

Actually yes, because I have seen that restaurant and wanted to stop but never did because I was pretty sure it was not going to be Latino food. The location is too remote for tourists to go there and not that easy for us locals, either. So I thought a real latino restaurant could never survive. I am glad to learn now that some one else has tried it and proven my theory correct and saved me the trouble of wasting time and money.

Thanks to all of you for your concise and straightforward answers to my question. Since you all seem to be providing the same answer, I can take a large degree of confidence in what you have contributed here. Thanks again.....

The following is quoted from the U.S. State Dept web site: http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/cis/cis_1753.html . The 2nd paragraph was the source of THAIHOME's input. In case you didn't go to the site, I would like to draw your attention to the 4^th sentence in the 4^th paragraph: travel is allowed using both passports so you wife could leave the U.S. on a U.S. passport and come into Thailand on a Thai passport and have no visa worries, regardless of her length of stay. This makes it so much easier for trips home when you do not know for sure how long she will stay and, specially, when/if you retire and move back to Thailand. Only one person of the couple has to get a retiree visa.

"The concept of dual nationality means that a person is a citizen of two countries at the same time. Each country has its own citizenship laws based on its own policy. Persons may have dual nationality by automatic operation of different laws rather than by choice. For example, a child born in a foreign country to U.S. citizen parents may be both a U.S. citizen and a citizen of the country of birth.

A U.S. citizen may acquire foreign citizenship by marriage, or a person naturalized as a U.S. citizen may not lose the citizenship of the country of birth. U.S. law does not mention dual nationality or require a person to choose one citizenship or another. Also, a person who is automatically granted another citizenship does not risk losing U.S. citizenship. However, a person who acquires a foreign citizenship by applying for it may lose U.S. citizenship. In order to lose U.S. citizenship, the law requires that the person must apply for the foreign citizenship voluntarily, by free choice, and with the intention to give up U.S. citizenship.

Intent can be shown by the person's statements or conduct. The U.S. Government recognizes that dual nationality exists but does not encourage it as a matter of policy because of the problems it may cause. Claims of other countries on dual national U.S. citizens may conflict with U.S. law, and dual nationality may limit U.S. Government efforts to assist citizens abroad. The country where a dual national is located generally has a stronger claim to that person's allegiance.

However, dual nationals owe allegiance to both the United States and the foreign country. They are required to obey the laws of both countries. Either country has the right to enforce its laws, particularly if the person later travels there. Most U.S. citizens, including dual nationals, must use a U.S. passport to enter and leave the United States. Dual nationals may also be required by the foreign country to use its passport to enter and leave that country. Use of the foreign passport does not endanger U.S. citizenship. Most countries permit a person to renounce or otherwise lose citizenship.

Information on losing foreign citizenship can be obtained from the foreign country's embassy and consulates in the United States. Americans can renounce U.S. citizenship in the proper form at U.S. embassies and consulates abroad. "

Have you experienced this, where someone around you or your circle of friends offers you help and you may not even know about it... and that person offering help says they are doing it out of the goodness of their heart... and someone (maybe a mate of yours) accepts the offered help. Boom, then the person who offered help wants to hold you to ransom for the rest of your life even if you did not ask for help in the first place!!!

Happened to me in Thailand, how about you?

I do not understand. You said..."someone ....offers [a 3rd party] help [for you] and you .. [do] not ... know ...... and [said 3rd party] accepts the offered help. Boom, then the person who offered help wants to hold you to ransom for the rest of your life".

So, unknown to you, this "help" was applied? And now the person wants something concrete in return? Or is the ransom wanting you to feel a sense of obigation (guilt) that will force you to do inconvient favors for them?

I am looking for a low power FM transmitter (like this) so I can listen to internet radio around the house. Has anyone seen something similar around town? I've tried the obvious places like Amorn and the computer plazas but they only carry the ultra low power jobs that play an iPod through your car stereo. They're simple little devices but I would like to avoid having to import one, besides which the one in the link is very expensive for what it is.

Not quite what you are looking for but may suffice if nothing else comes along.

I bought in Pantip Plaza for some 300-350 baht a wireless head phone set for the TV. I found out that it is also an FM radio transmitter. It is not too satisfactory for that, however, because there is no way to select stations; it only has a scan option.

On the plus side it does work at least one room away from the small transmitter.

Both the transmitter and head phones require two AAA batteries.

I haven't been in there for a long time but for many years all the staff at Linda Bar on Loi Kroh came from Sukhothai, they seemed to have no problem relocating and probably earning more than they ever did back in their home town.

lincdales said, "Actually she is a very inteligent woman with a highly responsible job in government. " So I assumed she would want a similar job and not just to work in the service industry. Regardless of the type of job, my experience says if you want to work at your current level or higher, getting hired almost always determines where you live. So if she wants to work after marriage, I would recommend keeping her current job or finding a new one before deciding where to live.

I think a retiree could make friends and play golf anywhere.

I've tried all the usual suspects such as Home Pro, Index Living Mall, Home Mart, and none stock those KITCHEN WORKTOPS/SURFACES which are so readily available in the UK. at places like B+Q and Homebase.

I want a piece about 2 metres long by 2ft 6ins wide. They're usually about 2ins thick. The only place I know I haven't yet tried is Global House 1st Ring Road.

Also, is there a well known SECOND HAND Furniture Store where I might find a large old KITCHEN TABLE. In the UK we had one made out of old railway sleepers. That's the sort we like, Big, old, bulky (and cheap) not the skimpy modern jobs which are so freely available.

I've just noted another thread which discussed this very topic which seems to end up having to go to Homeproto choose it and getting your installer to install it. But I don't have an installer and I don't want one. It does appear you can't just buy a piece.

What is the material (for us non-UK types) you are looking for? If it is marble or slate or granite, I see big pieces placed outside of shops selling them and they would obviously cut to size and deliver. I can not dredge out of my memory right now where exactly, but but I want to say on Assadathorn Road, going north from Jaeng Sriphum (northeast corner of the moat) toward Lotus on the super highway.

Global House burned down.

At the end of December I am aiming to move to Thailand.... and marry a girl from Sukhothai. ....The love of my life is suggesting we stay at her home with her family but I am reluctant to do so before getting to know them ...."

No matter what your ages, I agree with your hesitation to live with her parents. No newly weds should ever live with family if they can help it; it makes the adjustment just that much harder.

Your subsequent postings implied you are retired but your fiance may or may not continue working after your marriage. You might want to settle that before you decide where to try living as my experience says Thais, specially the women, after a certain age, can not easily move to another city and get the same level of job. Even when they work for a company that has an office in the new city, if the company does not initiate the move they do not seem to be interested in trying to find a position for employee. Food for thought?

Realizing your insurance paid, what was the total bill? I have no insurance and wondering what it would cost for both replacements at Sripat.

The operation was back in July and the bill included the extras we paid for (e.g., private room at 300 baht or so a day). I do not have it here at my house, so I can't check it for details. But, if my memory serves me correctly, I think her costs for the actual surgery were about 40,000 to 45,000 baht. This does not include the costs of the clinic visits. And the cost may be billed differently for Thai govt medical coverage than for private patients.

I am needing both knees replaced and have been given information leading me to believe this would be the best choice here locally. Have been given the recommendation to see a Dr Sataya...I will meet him next week. In the meantime is there anyone lurking out there who have first hand experience with this particular Dr. OR had total knee replacement here locally with some stories that won't scare the stuff out of me?

My 82 yr old M-I-L had him replace her knee; did good job. Her operation was covered by my F-I-L's retired RTAF military medical benefits, though we paid extra for a private room. Medical wise I would say he did a great job, plus he showed more concern and provided more care and attention to an old lady who refused to do her exercises ("It hurts") than I expected.

He was superficial in his explanations of processes, procedures, and rationale (which was OK for the MIL as she didn't understand even that and didn't even want to know). I had to push a little, as a mere S-I-L whose was slowing down his clinic, to get any details. I would imagine he would be more descriptive with the actual patient that wanted to know details.

My only real complaint was that ,being on the teaching staff, he was teaching or in surgery all day and we could only see him at his clinic at 5 pm or later.

Yes, thanks, I want to make sure they will not be rejected.

--

Will get down to Thapae then StevieH, thanks!

I have seen photo processing shops all over town that do this and have the impression most of them have a polaroid for that purposed. You just have to specifiy the background color and the size (both the overall picture and your face size).

I have gotten them or taken friends several places, but most regularly use the shop that does Mae Jo University grad pictures (i.e., a shop that does protraits). I have even gotten one set at a shop at Kad Gom where they speak no English and get no expat business whatsoever.

Can anyone recommend places to look for good paintings at reasonable prices please?

Bo Sang: drive by tourist umbella factory at the entrance and look on the right hand side of the street. About 100 meters in there a shop that sells paintings. Some are good, some are not. The owner is also an artist and will paint a 3' x 4' painting of your subject for about 3000 baht.

Hi

I've received an invitation to the wedding of a supplier's family member upcountry but doubt I will go. Yet my thai secretary reckons I should slip a couple of thousand baht in the enveloppe we received with the invitation and have someone hand it over to them during the ceremony. Does it seem like the polite way to do?

Cheers

Luis

You subsequent postings say this family is a minor supplier, i.e., a small subcontractor, of yours (one of many?). And the one getting married is a distant relative (maybe both literally and figuratively since you did not say it was son/daughter). They probably sent such invitations to some or all of their other customers. As some other repliers suggested, you really don't need to send money or a gift. A card is sufficient when there is no personal or important business relationship above and beyond, apparently, knowing who they are.

Any recipies?

Good question.

And why isn't anyone talking about making their own? Yes, I do realize this posting was started addressing a commercial establishment.

But there are lots of cookie mixes in the stores; just make a few minor tweaks if you want a tangy orange taste or lemon sugar cookies, etc. And you can make them with real butter or margerine, whatever tasted better to you.

OK, I realize lots of people don't have ovens, but if you do.....

NO PARKING

Isn't this the Dhamakaya sect fringe thing?

Not if you ask a Northern Thai

I know that the event is scheduled for this Saturday 8th Nov.

I've heard there's a ceremony at the Buddhist meditation Centre (?) prior to the release of these 40 million hot-air lanterns but, does anyone know what time they are scheduled to be released

Will appreciate your advice.

Thank you.

Cheers

See attached. According to the newspaper, releasing the balloons has been restricted to 9:30 pm because of them getting into flight paths. The ceremonies start at 7:30 and, as earlofwindermere stated, will be a long ritual before that actual lighting and releasing of the balloons. There is also the kratong release, which I would think would happen first. You will also notice there is other entertainment.

There will be plenty of photo ops and anyone with a digital should just snap away until their memory card is full.

Arrival time should probably be set by whether or not you want to park in the designated areas or park somewhere else and get shuttled in, ride a bike, or walk.

Brochure_1.pdf

I was just told by a Thai , that they saw on Thai TV, that there is supposed to be something going on for the high season at the old Flower Show Festival Grounds. Anybody hear of anything like this happening??

Maybe this Thai Visa comment from T_Dog?

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/2008-Agricul...ir-t219459.html

QUOTE: I see from Compass Magazine that the Agro-Industry Fair is being held again at CMU along Chiang Saen Road starting the 28th of October. Last year's show had all kinds of machinery demonstrations, farm displays, plants of all kinds for sale, as well as the usual endless food booths. Great event to attend if you are looking for something to do in Chiang Mai.