hmj

The topic is turning into an 'annual smoke' topic.

If OP and moderators permit, I would like to ask scea which other disposal means
of organic waste exist and how these disposal means can be implemented on terrain
which is not accessible for wheeled vehicles?

Please also elaborate on how labour intensive and costly these methods are.
If chemicals are used, what are the long term effects? (Do some reading
on the use of Agent Orange in Vietnam.)

The smoke is caused by 'Slash and Burn Agriculture'. The link below gives
an objective explanation.

http://geography.about.com/od/urbaneconomicgeography/a/slashburn.htm

The problem is beyond control because no international organisation,
e.g. the United Nations, is willing or daring to tackle the problems created
by slash and burn agriculture.

Ecologist Mike Hands has been searching for solutions since the mid 1980's
but has failed to get the backing from the U.N.

http://www.ingafoundation.org/

Our 'annual smoke' is showing us how unpleasant the future can be if we do not
put the environment before profit.

The smoke problem occurs in many countries around the world, north and south
of the equator and according to the seasons. It is a problem that will stay,
it is beyond control and it will get worse as the world population increases.

Life is highly unpleasant in Chiang Rai province during the smoke season and
I intend to relocate annually, from February to the end of May.

Where? Southern Africa and parts of Indonesia.

The thickness of the sod can vary a lot. Use the poorest/thinnest tiles in
places where they have the best growing conditions and/or where they are
the easiest to maintain. Regular cutting helps with weed control.

Sods of at least two species of grass are readily available. The fast growing
species, wide bladed, is 100% successful in keeping weeds down. I do not know
the names any more but the vendors will inform you.

At Pimay1, post #2.

"He said boats were now positioned at strategic locations along the
Lad Phrao Canal, as their engine propellers could be used to facilitate
the flow of water into the sea."

It is obvious that you are not 'a believer'.

Will the 'jet-set monk on the run' conduct the ceremony?

Follow up on post #44 by IMA_FARANG.

Some European countries have honorary consulates in Thailand with Thai nationals
as consuls. These consuls are not allowed to issue visas for Schengen countries.
Only the consulates connected with the embassies can issue visas.

Drop in rubber prices. What will happen when tens of thousands rai of rubber
trees in Chiang Rai province come in production about 5 years from now?

Beware staying close to an international border: your travel radius is halved!

Also remember that during the rainy season many steep dirt roads are best avoided.

The Tha Ton area has a very limited number of roads.

Chiang Kham has more possibilities than Tha Ton. Have a look on Google Maps or

OpenStreetMap.

Can TV members ask these "brilliant beauties" (semi) intelligent questions?

You beat me to it harrry. I have the same question.

Who is going to pay the hospital bill of the foreign tourists? The railway is
operated by the Thai State.

The face without a moustache looks familiar.

I wonder if Mr Chalerm has read "An Ice-Cream War" (1982), a novel written by
William Boyd.

"The novel could be considered a satire on the ineptitude of authority in wartime."
From Wikipedia <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/An_Ice-Cream_War>

"Songkran Achariyasap, who chairs a network that monitors activities considered
detrimental to Thailand, ...

The most detrimental activities to Thailand are corruption. He will probably
discover that the controversial monk is laundering corruption money.

Songkran Achariyasap could be the person to start a full scale war on corruption
and ensure that the people of Thailand have a future.

Philip Round in "A Guide to the birds of Thailand" writes the following on the
Scarlet Minivet: "Stouter and proportionately shorter-tailed than other minivets".

The minivet shown is heavy build and the tail is short compared to the body length.

The Short-billed Minivet has a limited distribution to hill evergreen forest above
1000 m a.s.l. The only provinces with extensive areas of these conditions are Pai,
Mae Hong Son and Chiang Mai.

Chiang Rai province has evergreen hill forest on the mountain between amphur
Chiang Saen and amphur Chiang Khong with only a small area over 1,000 m a.s.l.

"... adding that the project was designed as a total solution for the country's
flooding and drought situations. She went on to say that the project would also
improve the irrigation system in some areas to ensure better harvests."

About time to put the plans on the table.

DonaldBattles post #14
"To my knowledge there is no requirement to be married to a Thai in order to get
the yellow book. Recently in Chiang Rai I saw a farang man and his farang wife
get issued their yellow books."

BB1955 post #19
"This is true you just have to be a renter and in the country legally."

Above is my situation and I have been given a new yellow book at three amphur
already.

After changing your address, you report the new address to the previous
amphur of residence. They give you a letter stating that you have reported
moving to a new amphur. With this letter and the yellow book you must report
at the new amphur or you will be fined.

In a normal country the police would take action against people who
'commit acts of violence and intimidation that violate other people's
rights ... block traffic, search vehicles and people ... and even harm
them physically ...'.

notmyself #4

"Thailand is still going to have 18 million tonnes of rat magnet which they will
have to deal with."

Remember the power plant which will run on burning 'garbage'.

Neilly #2

"I don’t like where this is leading."

You mean that he is going to produce electricity by burning or gasifying "garbage"?

Corrupt politicians and administrators are "garbage" as well.
"The word is not rude. I mean, these people are useless," (Plodprasop said).

worgeordie #5

"I thought the sound of chainsaws would carry quite a distance in the forest..."

Nowadays they use electrical chainsaws in the forest powered by soundproofed
generators. Chainsaws with a 30 cm blade are legal. It takes 5 minutes to mount
a 150 cm blade which is carried separately.

"Why do they always find this wood after it has been cut down?"

This is an absolute truth. One reason is that the big man only can make an arrest
and he never comes in the forest. The little people who guard the forests are
careful not to arrest the wrong persons because they will get the blame on top of
their meager salaries.

EyesWideOpen post #14

"She happens to have an untimely death. Next thing you know there is a pickup truck
full of her relatives demanding you get out of " their" house. Same net effect
to the poor farang...."

Happened to me.

rbrooks #63

"Why do Thai drivers usually flee the scene when they are at fault driving boats,
airplanes, buses, autos, tuk tuks, trains, scooters, bicycles, elephants, etc.?"

The answer is: for insurance purposes, the drivers are responsible for the accident
and not the owners. In western countries the owners are responsible as far as
insurance is concerned.

maidu #74

The "lowest notes in an oboe" are calls made by the Greater Coucal.

You can listen to the sound on the link below.

http://www.xeno-canto.org/species/Centropus-sinensis

(To listen to the sound of other bird species, google for 'species name' in xeno-canto.)

The lowest-toned calls are made by the Emerald Dove which can be found in evergreen forests.

The howler monkey sounds in the Thai countryside are made by a single White-breasted Waterhen

or by two birds in a duet.