Mousehound

It seems that western pencils are lacking in lead. Certainly I find that my pencil would be far nicer if it had good lead in it.

This was a great market - hope they find a new home.

As for those that think that destroying small business and modernising is the only way to go you need learn about cotemporary thought on town planning. Change and modernisation don't always give the most enjoyable experience. Singapore is, in my opinion, a wonderful place - for half a day, and then it is just a bore.

I was a regular at the Kiat O-cha (Three Kings area) and for years before, when they were on Chang Khlan Road in the old Sri Tokyo Hotel.

My favorite now is Uan O-cha on Chang Khlan, opposite Chiang Mai General Hospital.

Is that on the right about seventy meters North of the hospital (back to the town )? Has a row of pot plants in the front and blue stools wood tables and concrete floor, outside painted white with a red awning?

This is brilliant! I litterally was about to post a request for Chineese style food place within walking distance of the North East corner of the moat. Going to be staying there for a few weeks and this is not an area I am very familliar with. Should be able to hunt this down.

Not arguing but when my recent bulbuls built their nest in my tree, let's say the grass was not 40mm thick, ....and I would go as far as saying their passion wagon was a cabriolet

But it may be in shade . 30mm is the recommended thickness if made in timber - this is from Dept of Conservation and Environment for building nesting boxes in the SW of Western Australia which gets pretty hot - touches 40C in summer. However, I like to add a little for extra comfort. With the extremes of weather over the last years many birds are experiencing stresses. eg flocks of parrots falling from the sky dead from heat exhaustion. The conditions in Australia can vary a lot from very cold to very hot. My experience in CM is that it can get cool at night during the dry season otherwise it is pretty hot and humid. What experience I have has taught me that I used to make the boxes too flimsy and the entry hole too large. But I am no expert and am still experimenting myself.

However, this site may have some plans you could use.

http://www.birdsinbackyards.net/sites/www.birdsinbackyards.net/files/page/attachments/Western%20Rosella.pdf

Bat houses are pretty cool as well.

Are you talking about nesting boxes here? remember as a kid I used to make them from a 1m plank of wood, so easy. And when I used to keep doves, we made the house from a blue water tub and cut windows in it and built a dummy roof over it. Good memories.

something of this nature:

thCA6WNZHL.jpg

or you wanting something much bigger?.....small ones available around the moat

If you make a nesting box in a hot climate it needs to be in the shade during the hot time of day. If not the timber needs to be 40mm thick to act as insulation.

You didn't state your age. After a certain age in Thailand - I think it's 65 but not 100% sure, you become uninsurable at least for health insurance. Health insurance is the important one to have (it includes accident coverage). If you have a sudden coronary emergency, it could cost you 100-200K THB the first couple of days. Without insurance or immediate access to minimum 200K cash (or a credit card with minimum 200K available credit), the hospital won't touch you. You could look at Thai Health, AXA, Allianz, etc. if you are below the cutoff age.

Also I don't understand the "I am saving up to purchase a car." bit. Isn't that something you do when you are 17 years old? Why not just go out and buy one?

No! At 17 you con your dad into paying for a small car by threatenning to buy an $A80 000 V8 on finance.

Ummm! Isn't this off topic?

Could just be a faulty sensor Some cars will just cut the power down and let you keep going (I have had a suzuki that did this) others - like my Toyota corolla just shut down completely. May depend on which sensor is faulty. I agree with Dolly - get the dealer to put it on the diagnostic tester.

A couple of add on things might be of interest to some. The walk from the village to the temple is nice. Near the temple is Chiang Dao Nest (there is another older brach of this place on the left of the road - that do not bad Thai food) this main place does some of the best farang food I have had in Thailand. A very nice and well set up place to spend a night. In the cold months they have some outdoor wood fires for people to sit around. Next door is Malee's. The later is cheaper to stay at and has good Thai food - very nice hosts and a great place if you are into birding. They can arrange bike hire if you don'y have your own wheels. Nearby are some good trail walks. The temple is well worth seeing. The climb to the top is over 400 steps and I found it hard going but made it. The view at the top is worth the climb. The gardens about the climb are very nice and many of the plants have name plaques in English, Thai and Latin. I found the monks to be friendly. The Nest and Malee can also arrange a trip up the mountain which we did - you need a 4 wheel drive to get up. It gets pretty cool up the top - I think similar to Doi Inthanon for temperature.

You got to the top of Doi Chiang Dao in a 4WD? I thought it was only possible by hiking, usually camping just below the summit. Oh well, nothing surprises me here anymore. Thought it was protected nature reserve, closed for several months a year to preserve the nature.

I stand corrected. Got to the top as far as you can go by 4WD and then hiked up the rest.

Holey moley.

I think I saw that guy standing on the beach road in Pattaya late one night last week.

Felt kind of sorry, as I doubted he/she would get many customers.

BTW, I doubt he's worried about his reputation as the consummate promoter. It's served him quite well, and I love to see and hear the guy each and every time.

I rather fancy him!

"...city full of total scumbags." Interesting perspective of London.

The City and London are not the same thing. When it comes to The City I'm inclined to agree with him.

Yeah well, after living in East London for a few years, you might come around to my point of view!

I can honestly say I am not missing London at all - I'm done with it. But I am pining for a busier place. Having said that though, each day here I seem to relax into it a bit more.

I just wish it wasn't so hot during the day - I'm finding I'm spending from about midday until 6pm in my room just to avoid the sun. But, I can wish all I like... this is Thailand after all. Rather this than the biting cold winters of the UK which last about 9 months of the year.

Anyone here got a place that is their favourite to live around Chiang Mai? I'm sill finding it hard to get a decent response on that subject. I'd like to find somewhere close to everything but not in the Old City. That Nimman area still looks the best bet but someone described it as a "ghetto" - how so?

Thanks.

I'm with you. I am a Londoner and I can't stand the grasping aggressive people there any more. the Northerners are way nicer - and have better food.

With regards the heat. As a young kid I had a couple of years in Cyprus. no aircon at all. Everyone started work at 6.30 (worked Sat mornings as well) and finished at noon. had a sleep till late afternoon and then the shops reopened untill ten at night. We always walked about at night and had dinner out - kebab down on the waterfront. I guess it would suit me to sleep through the hottest part of the day.

A couple of add on things might be of interest to some. The walk from the village to the temple is nice. Near the temple is Chiang Dao Nest (there is another older brach of this place on the left of the road - that do not bad Thai food) this main place does some of the best farang food I have had in Thailand. A very nice and well set up place to spend a night. In the cold months they have some outdoor wood fires for people to sit around. Next door is Malee's. The later is cheaper to stay at and has good Thai food - very nice hosts and a great place if you are into birding. They can arrange bike hire if you don'y have your own wheels. Nearby are some good trail walks. The temple is well worth seeing. The climb to the top is over 400 steps and I found it hard going but made it. The view at the top is worth the climb. The gardens about the climb are very nice and many of the plants have name plaques in English, Thai and Latin. I found the monks to be friendly. The Nest and Malee can also arrange a trip up the mountain which we did - you need a 4 wheel drive to get up. It gets pretty cool up the top - I think similar to Doi Inthanon for temperature.

An interesting one this. In my opinion the Australian Reserve bank will cut interest rates as the mining boom slows. This will drive the dollar down. The dollars true rate should be about the 85c AS and not over $1 as we have seen for some time. The Australian economy is a stable haven for funds and because of the high Aus bank interest rates and secure banking system Australia has been a good investment for overseas funds - further driving the A dollar up. However, now the World Banking system is is releasing a lot of cheap money onto the market and because of severe cost cutting by industry in the ASA and Europe the stock markets are on a bit a (if temporary) roll. So funds should drift from the lower Australian bank rates pushing the dollar downward. There is also a lot of presure to get the $A down, as its high level is hurting agricultural and other exports. Australia will need to shift its emphases away from mining if it is to develop in the future. Mining does not employ as many workers as does the construction of the mines for instance. Australia is also about to find life harder - there is going to be a lot of government financial reconstruction needed to cope with growing debt and Australians have a pretty high personal debt level. There are also signs that the housing bubble will burst soon. All this could make Australia a less attractive investment than it has been. If, however, there is another finacial saga like Cyprus but with a larger economy and say North Korea were to start attacking S Korea or China started to really push over the Spratley Islands then markets could look at Australia again. My ill informed guess is that the Australian dollar will slowly weaken to about 23Bht. How the BHT does - well I am sure there are even more theories about that. Political stability will most likely be the decider I would have thought.

Most people agree this is a very reliable car and cheap to run. Crash repair costs should not really be in the equation because they should be covered by insurance. If you don't have insurance then I think you shouldn't have any car on the road. The most important test is safety. I think the Yaris does OK for a small car. One reason it costs a lot to repair is that it crumples easily - the way it is designed to do to save you from injury.

http://www.howsafeisyourcar.com.au/2012/Toyota/Yaris/YR-NCP130R-2D-Hatch-5sp-man-1_3L-4cyl-Petrol/

The Y Hotel Hyde Park is central and has some of the cheapest rooms that I know of. About $85A a night.

Check out hotels with Trip Advisor.

I ran into the back of a pickup truck whilsyt in my Yaris some months back. It was well over 10k when I hit him. I just bounced off. A nasty dent where his tow bar hit my bumper. luckily the bar did not go through the rediator and the airbags did not go off. Damage was not worth the effort fixing.

From Post #16: As no one seems to have experienced renting a car and a driver that has had an accident there is an element of doubt.

As I've said above, I have never, on at least 4 occasions now, provided to the rental car company from which I rented their driver-provided-vehicle a copy of my passport, credit card, address, nor signature on a contract. However, next time, I can maybe arrange to have an accident so I can help you out.

Great! Not often you find such a helpful person. Make sure you let me know what happens

Cheap, well positioned accommodation is very hard to get in my experience.I hate to say it but I think you may be up to $2-3000A short to have a nice time and stay in the city. I agree with the other posts - three days in Sydney and get out. Might be worth hireing a campervan - the countryside and country towns are very nice.

http://www.britz.com.au/campervans-motorhomes-australia-venturer

I was thinking of North wheels in anycase - they quoted me an extra 500 Bht a day for a driver. Price is fine but I comne back to whether you are still liable if there is a problem. Some posters clearly think you would be liable. has anyone here had an accident with a North Wheels hire car?

As i said call (or email) and ask, they speak english there. I could do it for you, but really if you can't be bothered to do it yourself why should I.

Thank you for your suggestion. I have in fact contacted them, it took a while for them to reply, and they inform me that I am not liable in the event that there is an accident if they provide the driver and the car. However, the question then is is this correct? As no one seems to have experienced renting a car and a driver that has had an accident there is an element of doubt.

I baught a year old one 10 years back. It has a smaller engine. I towed a small 14ft ally dinghy quite often. I still have it - has just clocked over 475k and all I have done is replace the coil thingy and rear wheel bearings. In the last month though she has only been runnuing on two cylinders once she has warmed up. My son thinks this is most likely the CDI but a new part is worth more than the car. I hated this car when I bought it. But it has been the cheapest most reliable car I have ever owned.

Slightly off topic........ does anyone remember when Immigration would refuse to service someone that was not "dressed politely" ?

MSPain

Do you mean: แมลงวันของคุณจะถูกยกเลิกได้

I was only refused service at a roadside stall once and that was because the owner was absolutely run off his feet with orders. I never got the idea that it was because I was farang - I know others that have eaten there.

I have not met anyone yet who does not have great memories about that iconic airport, and many were sorry to see it go.

Actually, I think if you will agree, the flights did not come in to land from the Peak, which is in Hong Kong. But you are right that they did come in over a peak of the nearby hills there, and then there was almost not enough distance to lose enough altitude, which caused the pilots to drop the plane like a sack of potatoes onto the runway. Always a thrill.

The China Airlines accidents were legend. I remember one time when they had to blow the tail off the China Airlines 747 half-submerged at the end of the runway to quickly get the airport up and running again. Those CA pilots thought they were hot stuff.

Great that you, too, are lucky enough to remember those days of KaiTak, and also Hong Kong.

I'm sure you are right - long time ago now. HK was a great place. When I was there after a couple of weeks I wanted to get out. But after a couple of weeks away from the place I was desperate to return.

I once lived near KaiTak!

Those birds really came in for a landing.

It was often China Airlines that ended up in the drink or upside down though.

Now that I think of it, maybe the China Airlines pilots back then were on the drink.

I don't think there are any China Airline pilots taking off over my head here since I have been watching.

Everything seems to be straight and level.

I had a factory over the road from kai tak in San Po Kong - back in the eighties. never forget tyhat first flight in. Dead of night and over the peak with all HK ablaze with light. Then that weaving down between buildings - looking up into apartment windows. Brilliant! My office looked rihjt out over the runway but we put in double glazing and with all the other noise about you really couldn't hear the planes at all.