rbee

Hi. I have not gone yet, but I have heard that the Lady Dentist at the Poly-Clinic is the best place to go for Dental work, including cleanings. She also speaks English, which is a plus in my book. I have been thinking about it myself lately, so will find out soon.

Good luck!

Robin

Kje889,

I have lived in Hua Hin since Sept and find the expats AND the Thais here to be very friendly and easy to get to know. Since the King lives here, there is only a small girlie bar scene, and so a large majority of the foreigners living here must do something else besides get drunk and hang out in bars. They tend to be well read, well traveled, and generally very interesting, frinedly and helpful people. A majority are from Northern Europe. I love the people in this town. I have made friends with many of the local business people too, which makes me part of the "family" when I want to buy something, if you know what I mean!

As far as Jazz music and teachers, there is a new Music Society in H H trying to promote ALL types of live music. You can access the website at www.HuaHinMusicSociety.com We have just learned that THE only traditional Jazz Quartet in the area, which usually only plays at the Dusit Resort near Cha-Am, will begin playing on the 1st and last Monday nights of each month, starting at 9 pm, at the Oyster Bar Restaurant on Naresdamri Road near the Pier in H H. This is very exciting for many of us, as it will also be an open jam session each time, as well. There are a number of expats who play around town when they can, but many have just left for the season.

The Yamaha Music School is expanding as well, and they may be looking for teachers. It will also be a venue for bringing in new music to the area. I,m guessing that you already know about the annual H H Jazz Festival held in June here. Hope you get here before that happens. There are a couple of Universities in Bangkok that have Large Jazz studies classes. One of them sent 30 young people down to the Oyster Bar last week and blew us away with some major jazz riffs and scat singing! We hope to get some of them to come down regularly, soon.

As far as what I don't like about H H, the main highway goes right through to main shopping area of town, with all the attendent noise, congestion and pollution. People with big cars and trucks tend to block traffic everywhere you go. that's about it!

I hope this has been helpful for you. I would suggest that you try to find a house away from the center of town if you want peace and quiet.

Sincerely,

Robin B

<font color='#000000'>Let's just get something straight. There are solar panels available which consist of many photocells wired together to give a relatively small DC voltage output and not a lot of amps. They require light to work so at night there is no output. Consequently, a storage device is required, usually a battery which is trickle charged by the solar panel output. To drive AC devices requires an inverter DC in AC out. However, the DC in will probably be, say, 24 volts DC and we want an AC output of 220/240 V. This is achievable but not much power (watts) so can only drive fans, lights, fridge, TV etc.

To produce enough power to operate AC compessors, electric water heaters, electric kettles would require massive batteries and inverters.

For domestic applications, they are probably restricted to low power applications.

A different animal are the solar panels used for heating. These can be made up by the average DIY man who can bend and joint copper pipes. Encased in a black lined box with glass lid and exposed to the sun these can heat the circulating fluid to scalding temperature. Needs ideally to be a closed circuit filled with (say) vehicle coolant (ethylene glycol) and run into a coil in a water cylinder similar to a European immersion heater.

Could be used cheaply an effectively to warm up the shower water in the winter months and feed the washing machine and kitchen.

Alternatively the cheap Charlies can just connect the garden hose to an outside tap (faucet) and coil it to soak up the sunshine before turning on the tap. Hot for a while!

Peter

Peter</font>

Hi George,

I'm new to this forum, but I am pleased to find it. I think that you and Dr Pat and the others are doing a great service to the rest of us! Thanks.

Basically I agree that Peter the Eater is correct. You can run your lights, radios/stereos, TVs, VCRs, a small efficient reefer, and other low-load electronics with simple solar set-ups including batteries. It is easiest if your appliances are already 12 or 24 volt, then you don't need converters, but you can also mix and match A/C and 12/24 volt together. It just gets more complicated.

I would suggest buying 12 or 24 volt volt ceiling fans to run directly off your simple set-up, as they draw very little energy. A ceiling fan directly over the bed or seating areas is amazingly effective!

I would also suggest a 12 or 24 volt water pump for the pool, with it's own small solar panel. If you did not want batteries for this one, I think it would still do it's job only running when the sun is shining. You may not be aware of this, but most solar panels will still generate some power in low (early morn or evening) or cloudy light, therby extending the days power.

Eater is right about making hot water the cheap and easy way, too.

The AC is the killer! If you can get off it, it would save you much $$$$ in solar panels.

I lived in South Florida for 2 years, with 100 degree weather and 100% humidity, with only ceiling fans, and it really wasn't bad. The real trick is to create shady environments around your house to keep the outside walls cool, and lots of movement of air within your house. Look at the "old style" Thai houses for inspiration. Do not allow the sun to shine on windows or walls, especially concrete block walls. They are useless as insulation.

Well, I know all about the permaculture principles of off-grid power and heating, but I am hoping that when I get there , I will find someone thru this forum who can help me set-up these systems. I am NOT good with the actual numbers, unfortunately. but I have helped set these systems up in the US with other people in charge of those numbers, and it was fairly easy, really.

There is a REALLY good magazine for beginners AND pros which explains all kinds of systems and what they cost to set up. It's called Home Power Magazine, and I highly recommend it. It's written by regular folks for regular folks. they have a great website too:

www.homepower.com

the cost for international is $30. USD Ground. You can call them at 541-512-0201 for the Air price.

Check it out.

Thanks, Miss Robin

Hi all.

Unfortunately Maverick, Gyms are not my thing so I can't help you with that.

BUT, it sure would be nice if everyone on these forums could be civil. After all, we are here to learn about the Hua Hin area, not treat each other badly, right?

I hope to move to the area this fall and WOULD like to get some of my questions answered.

Mr. GooseThai, don't you have something more meaningful to do with your free time?

rbee

Thanks for your info, guys. Will write these places down.

Any other info? Like, Who might be growing the stuff, and where?

rbee

Hi. I am planning to move to Hua Hin/Cha Am area this fall.

I wonder if anyone has information about possibility of buying Organically grown foods within a 30 KM radious?

I was dismayed on last trip through the dountry to see pesticides being sprayed on many fields. I can only assume that the practice is widespread.

I am told there are 3 health food stores in Hua Hin, but I would really like to buy food fresh from the farm, if possible.

Anybody have info about this?

rbee

I have never done this before so please bear with me as I struggle along.

I am an American with an unmarried partner who wishes to move to Thailand and retire there. We have money to buy a building with some property attached. We have heard a little bit about an option # 3. A 30 year leasehold on land with or without a building on it, with an option of further periods of 30 years lease. So far, I have not been able to find an exact explanation of how this works or what type of Visa or immigration proceedure we would need to do this.

We had hoped to buy something that would permit us to rent 2-3 apartment units to visitors while living in it ourselves, to support ourselves in retirement. Is this possible? If so, what kind of legal status would we need to apply for and would we still need to leave country periodically to renew something?