msg362

OK,

In the total absence of any information here, I went ahead and bought a system from Pantip Plaza ( Goodspeed). Linksys Powerline network. Very simple to install, just plug in. But then!!

My router is upstairs. I plugged into a socket on that line then plugged into many sockets downstairs near the big TV. I keep getting 'the system is congested'.

If i plug into the same line that the one upstairs is one everything works fine. ( I also tried it downstairs and it worked- (it seems to be a function of wiring length and maybe going through the Circuit breaker box)

After several hours, a 20 metre LAN cable, I've come to the conclusion that the wiring in my house is simply not up to it. In the UK there are 'ring mains', circular circuits, here I'm not sure. The wiring in my house is to a high ( Thai) standard, so I'm despondent and seem to have wasted 2,500 Baht!

In any event, when I linked up with the LAN to the Vivo box ( to see MP4s on the TV) the internet connection was not very useful so I'll stick to downloading BBC programmes to the iMac, putting them onto a portable HD ( 500 GB) and plugging into the Vivo box to watch them on the big TV

Doing a bit more research on the Thai Visa Chiang Mai forums, it looks like a lot of people have recommended mainly two businesses in the past as probably being the best in Chiang Mai, in terms of honesty, professionalism, and price:

Miauw at P&P Travel; and

Khun Pidet at Travel Shoppe

Now all I need to know is where are these agencies located?

P+P travel is in Tapae road almost opposite the bright orange bank, it's on a corner and difficult to park a car. Maoe is very good and speaks excellent English, prices at least as good at the internet normally, but often can find special offers

If you are settling here and have a long stay type visa then you can import one lot of personal effects without paying duty. I imported a lot of kitchen stuff , including knives.

Don't know where you live, but here in CM there are several places to buy good knives. Central KSK, Robinson, Rimping so you may not need to import them

While i have no reason to doubt what you say, could it have been a case of "a good day at the office" for you, so to speak?....one "that got away" where you had good fortune in not paying any duty, rather than you not being "eligible" to pay it?

The below link is straight from the horses mouth with regards to what (and who) qualifies for duty free importings of personal stuff.

The relevent part is marked in red on the site.....

http://www.customs.g...nuNme=HouseHold

HTH

Penkoprod

As I understand it you are allowed to import one 'lot' if you are moving here permanently, i.e. retirement Not a good day at the office, just standard practice. I used a firm called 'Seven Seas ' that did everything. In fact i imported a second lot about a year later. Now that might have been a 'good day at the office'!

PS No tables so nothing underneath them

ADD

The link you give is for 'returning 'Thai residents' not first time immigrants, i.e. farang retirees

If you are settling here and have a long stay type visa then you can import one lot of personal effects without paying duty. I imported a lot of kitchen stuff , including knives.

Don't know where you live, but here in CM there are several places to buy good knives. Central KSK, Robinson, Rimping so you may not need to import them

I'm happy too! I pay 890, get 7+ downstream and 0.8+ up in Thailand except at peak times 9 saturday pm/night). I get about 3+ from the UK.

Watched Channel 4oD stream last night. only got a little buffering around 9.30 otherwise 1hour.15 minutes uninterrupted!

I live in the sticks in San Kamphaeng so really pleased. Things are improving year on year.

the service is pretty reliable too and the helpine seems to work!

Try the 1317 out towards San Kamphaeng. Lots of developments. A vast new Central complex is under construction at the Don Chan interchange. From where I live, 4 km east of SK, 20 min to the airport. Surrounded by hills!

Saturday walking street in SK great fun

Check for toothpaste being sold in a convenience store in the immediate area that would only be frequented by tourists.

...after eating and using restrooms at the Night Market in Chiang Mai, Thailand, on 30 Mar 2011...

Using the restrooms to brush their teeth?

...found dead after using the hotel's facilities 26 Jan 2011...

Including the restroom to brush his teeth.

...They returned to the hotel from the hospital, where the woman again collapsed and began vomiting in the elevator...

Because she brushed her teeth while in her room.

...An elderly couple from England died simultaneously of a heart attack inside their Downtown Inn hotel room on 28 Feb 2011...

Using the same tube of toothpaste to brush their teeth.

...A 23 year old woman from New Zealand, died in hospital 3 Mar 2011 after she and 2 friends became ill in the same hotel...

Again, sharing toothpaste.

...That same day, a 47 year old tourist guide was found dead in a room located next door to the New Zealander...

Used the same convenience store... to buy toothpaste.

A 33 year old American woman also died after experiencing similar symptoms as Carter.
However, she was not staying at the Downtown Inn and lab results for the cause of death have not been received.

Don't need to be staying in the same hotel to use the convenience store located near the hotel.

If anything's going to kill you in Chiang Mai it's going to be the crazy drivers, and surely not the food.

Toothpaste fits better than food poisoning. Maybe mouthwash or floss. But probably toothpaste.

I think it was the shampoo, much more likely!

Check for toothpaste being sold in a convenience store in the immediate area that would only be frequented by tourists.

...after eating and using restrooms at the Night Market in Chiang Mai, Thailand, on 30 Mar 2011...

Using the restrooms to brush their teeth?

...found dead after using the hotel's facilities 26 Jan 2011...

Including the restroom to brush his teeth.

...They returned to the hotel from the hospital, where the woman again collapsed and began vomiting in the elevator...

Because she brushed her teeth while in her room.

...An elderly couple from England died simultaneously of a heart attack inside their Downtown Inn hotel room on 28 Feb 2011...

Using the same tube of toothpaste to brush their teeth.

...A 23 year old woman from New Zealand, died in hospital 3 Mar 2011 after she and 2 friends became ill in the same hotel...

Again, sharing toothpaste.

...That same day, a 47 year old tourist guide was found dead in a room located next door to the New Zealander...

Used the same convenience store... to buy toothpaste.

A 33 year old American woman also died after experiencing similar symptoms as Carter.
However, she was not staying at the Downtown Inn and lab results for the cause of death have not been received.

Don't need to be staying in the same hotel to use the convenience store located near the hotel.

If anything's going to kill you in Chiang Mai it's going to be the crazy drivers, and surely not the food.

Toothpaste fits better than food poisoning. Maybe mouthwash or floss. But probably toothpaste.

I think it was the shampoo, much more likely!

I've been reading up about these systems that give you the LAN equivalent using the mains circuitry. My son in the UK has one and it works well.

Questions

1 Do they work reasonably well here in Thailand?

2 Does polarity matter? ( i.e. live/ neutral which is always a problem here)

3 Can I buy one in Chiang Mai ? Pantip for example and if not can I order one from somewhere in BKK?

Promise that if I get one I'll report back!!

Thanks in advance for any help

Also i am told that songkran was rained out around Chiang Mai.

Only one day, the rest was fine

Sorry msg362, this wasn't directed at you. You def need the cover for you camera.

I'm just wandering about the thought process of this particular Songkraner... putting on a poncho over the same clothes he was playing in yesterday and strapping a watergun over his neck.

Interesting. I just saw a guy leaving the wearing the same Songkran attire and watergun, as yesterday. Yesterday was no problem, but today he thinks it necessary to dawn a poncho.

Moat water splashed all over you - ok

Raining - need a poncho?

The rain jacket is for the camera! It wore it yesterday and will again today!

No problem, I agree, the moat water is to be avoided, rain water not a problem

Have a great time

Interesting. I just saw a guy leaving the wearing the same Songkran attire and watergun, as yesterday. Yesterday was no problem, but today he thinks it necessary to dawn a poncho.

Moat water splashed all over you - ok

Raining - need a poncho?

The rain jacket is for the camera! It wore it yesterday and will again today!

You can find cheapo waterproof cameras. I almost bought this one:

http://www.amazon.co.../dp/B004FLL5AY/

$159 and takes HD video.

However I decided against it; that's $159 AND time wasted filming that I could be boozing and playing.

Looks like a good toy one, and I'm sure it will produce something for fun, but there is HD and then there is HD! ( and then there is sound)

But for Songkran would be good for a lot of people I think

Looks like a great day for rain video at the moment.....

Looks like I'll need my rain jacket! It's teeming down here in Sankamphaeng!

But why do you need a high level waterproof camera unless you work for the BBC/CNN/Nat Geo? The one I use cost me less than 5000thb and it made a decent video for personal use and to show friends back home yesterday and Im sure it will again today.

I'm glad you are happy. So am I. I don't need a waterproof camera, ,my point was that they are very expensive.I've got a specifically designed 'raincoat for it. If you don't know why I use a high level camera, I really can't explain. It's similar to photographers using high end DSLRs to get the shots they want, rather than a point and shoot which most people are happy with.

I was also filming with a small video device in a waterproof bag. I was holding it in an elevated fashion, so that when I got sprayed with water, it would still stay relatively dry. Annoying **Europeans** kept going out of their way to NOT spray me, but instead spray directly at the video camera in my hand.

-Mestizo

Its like the picture of a small fly painted on to some toilets in bars, the men will always aim for the fly and it keeps the floors/seat clean. If someone has a camera it will get aimed for. Go out and buy a waterproof camera and problem solved.

You can't get a high level waterproof video camera (unless you work for the BBC/CNN/ Nat Geo or you are VERY rich!!)

Thanks folks for your comments,

I agree, the villages are where a quieter and more authentic sonkran takes place, but i can film both then show the contrast?

I've got a really good 'rain coat' for the camera which protects it from all but the craziest idiots.

I've uploaded VERY rough cuts of some of the clips.

http://youtu.be/903ihPb9Nac

I did not have footage of the American as the camera was pointing at the crowd opposite, I just got his voice

Happy Sonkran everybody! Three more days to go!

OK, so the day before the official start to Sonkran, I go down to Tapae Gate with an expensive video camera, covered in a raincoat and stat shooting. Lots of action, a group of Thais and farangs throw water over passing cars, motorcycles etc. Happily filming when an american with a loud voice starts asking 'why are you filming?' Now unlike still photography, I'm recording his loud voice when I really don't ant to, so i ignore him. 'Thai TV?, your own ? a documentary??' and so on. Finally he goes away. About 10 minutes later he reappears, again with a voice to overlay the sound of squeals of fun- 'Tell me really why are you filming? you've been filming young children now for 30 minutes, that's wierd.' - 'Please go away I don't want your voice on my sound track' I say so he squirts me with his water gun.

I hope he reads this and understands what a pr**k he is! Did he think I was a paedophile?

On another note, the Thais were very good when they saw I was carrying an expensive video camera, unlike some farangs who seem to think it is fun to drench a videographer!

Oh well more footage tomorrow and yet more wierd experiences!

Is it just me or has the daily 'best topics' thread stopped? It shrank a bit over the last few days but now I don't see it at all

It's not to believe but to know, nothing strange with paranormal things.

Quite right. Just as part of the natural cycles as the normal models. It's what we don't know that could be explored.....we're not curious. instead, we cherish the things that are clearly understandable and created for us.

Ugh?'

Can you explain? who created what for us, how are they clearly understandable' and why are we not curious? Science is based on curiosity and is the best mechanism we have found so far for explaining things around us. As we understand more so the boundaries of of the 'supernatural' and 'paranormal' shrink. Claims for other causes must be justified with evidence/proof, not just personal anecdotes.

Transfer in sterling and get a decent exchange rate from your Thai bank. The problem is that there will be a transfer fee from your UK banks. Mine, from 1st Direct is £25 so I transfer larger sums to keep the charges down. Other banks charge less I think.

SO

transfer large sums infrequently in sterling to your Thai bank ( e.g Bangkok bank) and get a much better rate

Usually, threads opened that discuss moderation are just closed. These ones must have gone a bit further, so were also hidden from view.

They would have got on to the "best topics" email (I assume it was an email) because that's an automatic process. Once it gets on there, the system can't stop you clicking on the link, so it just shows a "don't have permission to view" screen.

Thanks but maybe some changes to the system are needed?

What sort of changes would you suggest?

Once you have your email, the link in the email can't be changed. The system doesn't know that you got the link from your email.

If the thread gets hidden, the system will only know that you don't have permission to access the thread, so it will display the appropriate screen.

Not my job to suggest, I'm no expert, but getting closed threads daft. The experts should be able to sort it out

There is one on the road to wing 41, just as you turn off the suthep road near the Art Exhibition place. Lots of good stuff with a membership system

Usually, threads opened that discuss moderation are just closed. These ones must have gone a bit further, so were also hidden from view.

They would have got on to the "best topics" email (I assume it was an email) because that's an automatic process. Once it gets on there, the system can't stop you clicking on the link, so it just shows a "don't have permission to view" screen.

Thanks but maybe some changes to the system are needed?

On' best topics' today there were two titles complaining about mods I think. One was 'Censorship with CM mods just fine' the second 'Learn to bend the rules once in a while TV Mods'

I 'did not have permission to view'

Questions,

I can view all the other topics on todays listing, why can't I view these?

If these topics are banned why post them? It's just irritating

What was the point in posting them?