DoiSuthep

I went to Hinlay's last Sunday evening to check out the place (thanks OP for the map), but it was closed. Disappointing...

Does anyone know the hours and days of operation for Hinlays?

Cheers.

Hello K. Wynzlo,

Have you considered the use of a water-filter, as suggested above? There is no hassle about swapping cases of bottles, no wondering about the filtration quality and hygiene of the plant and no green-house gases from transporting water which is already in your place.

It does not have to be a super-dooper Rolls-Royce type (with a high price tag) filter.

I have been using one for 2 years which I bought at Big-C for about 1,000 THB.

It has 3 standard size filters: ceramic, resin and carbon.

The unit can be conveniently attached to standard kitchen tap threads. It can just sit on the kitchen top. I installed mine under the sink (via some expensive little taps) to take water from the main pipe, filter it and deliver it to a tap on the sink.

For a year, I lived in a place where the water supply was from bore-water. I had to clean the carbon filter with a stiff tooth-brush monthly to remove the red/brown clay-like substance.

The filtered water had no smell or unpleasant taste.

Since the second year, I am living where city-water is supplied. Again, there is no odour or bad taste of the filtered water. There is also no build up of the red/brown muck.

Depending on usage, the carbon and resin filters should probably be replaced annually. Ceramic filters can last longer, but if water flow has slowed down a lot, then probably replace that too.

I use the filtered water for making coffee/tea, water for soups, making ice and of course drinking.

I hope this helped and good luck!

Hello everyone,

Here are my findings:

I rang various 'Metered' Taxi numbers to find out if they pick up from my condo (in the city area, I could walk to CNX in 30-40 mins).

The standard price seems to be 150 THB. However, I need the pick-up very early to catch a 7AM flight. So they pushed the price up to 250 THB. All the taxi companies.

Luckily my luggage will not be very large. So I decided that that I will just ride myself on my motorbike to the airport, luggage on my back.

I will park my motorbike at the airport car-park for free. When I return a week later, I will just ride back home. No need to worry if the taxi company understood where to pick me up from, or to worry if they are going to be late or turn up at all. And I save 400 THB.

It is actually not about the money anymore. They just tried to screw me one too many times. I know that It is a lose-lose situation. But I just had enough of these pathetic scams.

Well, I hope that other people have more pleasant experience with taxis in CM.

I miss those BKK taxis, they are plentiful, available 24/7 and priced fairly with the meters actually running.

...

I don't trust anyone to get me from house to airport, I'm not missing a flight because some taxi driver got a better offer of a fare, or couldn't be bothered to get out of bed. Getting to the airport is what neighbours are for.

I was afraid someone might say this. That's why I would like to have a few choices of Taxis.

I prefer the closed vehicles (so no insomniac will spray water on me at 5.30am), but in an emergency I will have to take a tuk-tuk and my umbrella.

Worst-case scenario, I take my motorbike and put small luggage on back and wear my rain-coat....

Oh Songkran, don't you just love it???

Thanks to the people who have responded so far.

Hello everyone,

I need to book a reliable metered taxi to go from my condo near the CMU to the CNX Airport for an early morning flight next week.

Can you recommend a company and their phone number for booking? Do you know the app. fare and fees? When to book?

Please note: I am only interested in those A/C taxis, not the tuk-tuks or red-taxis.

Any info is welcome. Please send me a Private Message if posting numbers is against the forum rules.

Thanks in advance.

Hello James,

My click needed new tyres after about 15,000 Kms. I got the same ones as the original (Thai brand, can't remember the name). Same size, because it's best not to mess around with tyre sizes, or else it may show you incorrect speed. It cost me 1,020 THB for both, from the Honda dealer on the Kaeo Nawarat road (tyres only, not changed the tubes: 70/90-14 NR73 and 80/90-14 NR73).

The wear indicators are in the grooves of the tyre, not the small 'hairs' sticking out. When the rest of the treads wear down to them, then it is time to change.

For me, the new tyres improved the grip on the road, in fact I was reminded to change the tyres when I started to feel that the bike slipped a bit on corners. Next day I was at the dealer to change.

I have an aluminium pump and an air-pressure gauge. I pump the tyres weekly to 29 at the front and 36 psi at the rear, as I managed to read from the user's manual, for 2 persons. I don't know why, but motorbike tyres lose pressure quickly. My car tyres never need pumping up. Must be because car tyres are tubeless.

I also have the bike serviced regularly at 2,500 kms. Usually oil and filter change, but they also supposed to check for wear of other parts. Always around 100 THB plus other parts if needed. I would never use small repair shops, unless in an emergency and there were no available Honda dealers around.

Best regards.

PS. I admire your courage to ride on a click to Mae Sai and back. It is tiring enough in a car

I like the Japanese mayonnaise, in the uniquely shaped bottle with the baby on it. Not sweet at all and it has real egg flavour too.

You can buy at Rimping et al.

In the picture is the 500g bottle, the best value, but smaller bottles are also available.

Keeps in the fridge for ages.

There is a Thai version, same looking, same good taste.

Enjoy!

-buy earplugs

-move to another apartment

-buy loudspeakers and broadcast your own programming. i.e. rock and roll, cartoons etc

-close your windows in the morning

-pray each morning that you lose your hearing

-declare a Fatwa against anything

-buy a dozen vendor carts and have them surround the mosque to make pungent pork dishes. the porky aroma will drive them to another mosque

Love your last 3 ideas

I had similar problem with noise, coming from a tortured crying puppy locked up in a cage all day. And also noise from a school, doing their morning speech thingy over the loudspeakers every morning around 7.30am

Complaining about it will just get us into trouble. Sadly, LOS is NOT a quiet retirement place and moving probably not solve the problem. There is noise everywhere. Moo-baans, high-rise condos all inclusive. But there is one place in Thailand, where there is deafening silence: the place where the oldest living teak tree is, in Northern Thailand somewhere. I was there. But then a 4-wheel drive arrived with a noisy family. I can't win.

So now, I am looking into double glazing and got my silicone ear-plugs out, again.

BTW Cobra, I have seen those barbed ear-plugs at HomePro, you can also try Sports stores, swimming section, but they can be uncomfortable to sleep with.

To the OP, I empathise with you. BUT we can not change the ways of the locals and it will be decades before effective noise-pollution laws will come to LOS. As other posters said, Thais have an amazing ability to block out noise and we need to learn to do that also. Funnily, now that I have decided to NOT fight the noise polluters, but to block out the noise, as much as I can, I started to sleep a bit better already.

When the rainy season is over (and when the window-building company will bother to get back to me with a quote for double glazing), I will change my windows and sleep even better, I hope. Until then, I wake around 7am and go to bed earlier.

VERY funny suggestions, Cobra

Yes we have Tops here in CM and I have seen a few other flavours, but not this one. I will keep looking. Thanks JT.

Now, if there was a Yellow Pages type of service info, by business type, that would be fantastic.

Eg. Glaziers, for double-glazed windows. Or Tilers, or plumbers, or electricians etc.

Oh, I forgot to mention that an English would be more helpful to us TV users. I can hope...

Thanks o:37, great find.

Hi all,

This particular sauce, also known as 'Toban Djan' in Chinese language is used in making the Mabo Tofu dish, one of my favourites.

I brought this jar from overseas and now it has run out, so now I am looking for it here locally. Has anyone seen it? Where can I buy it?

Any info is appreciated. Thanks.

Here is a picture:

Do any Chiang Mai members have any updates please in regard to kitchens?

Appreciate any information or comments thanks.

Hi there,

I just ordered my kitchen from Index (on Superhighway).

They now have granite tops samples (actually they use a supplier who will come in, invoice you and collect the money from you separately).

The designer at Index does an OK job, but better if you know what you want. He doesn't speak much English, but Index will call on a staff who can translate for you. Their modular system seems quite good and flexible.

Press him for EXACT prices, as his estimates can be way out. He also forgot to mention that I needed a wooden support bench-top under the granite until quite late in the quoting process. The extras add up, but still an OK price.

I went for the hi-gloss white finish Illusion, with a granite top at 1,800 B per sqm + service charges for cutting. Bench-top (with double edge) came to about 11,000 B installed,

Cabinets about 66,000 B for L-shaped 2.4m X 3.0m floor cabinets and 2.4m X 1.2m L-shaped wall cabinets. Prices vary depending on how many 3-drawer modules you want (they are more expensive than just cabinet with doors and shelves. The quote for Laminate bench-top was more expensive than the natural stone granite, so of course I went for the stone.

They advertise 5 days delivery from order (BKK only), in CM it's more like 10 days.

Currently they have 10% discount if bought with some electrical appliances (but I got the discount even without buying the appliances from them) which finishes TODAY 27 May 2010. Also helps if you get their Joycard (spend 5,000 B first, then you can get card, after that you get 3-5% discount on many things).

I am yet to get my kitchen delivered and installed, so I can't tell you about their workmanship. But I will closely supervise every step, so that they don't cock it up.

Index & HomePro have a good range of European appliances. Some you have to wait for 6-8 weeks delivery if it comes from Europe. All other stuff comes from BKK. They both have the same List Prices, so it's up to you to bargain and buy when things are on special. But getting a discount, even a small one, is like getting blood from a stone.

I got my appliances from HomePro, Teka Oven & Hob, Franke Hood & Sink.

I hope this helps

... Before it I had the EDGE low speed service for much much less and works fine for email. i even have the brand new EDGE air card if someone wants it

Khun Speicher, can I have that EDGE air card if you don't need it? Please PM me with details. Much thanks.

Hello everyone,

Can anyone help me? I am trying to locate petrol stations that sell E20 petrol, in and around Chiang Mai city. That's petrol which contains 20% Ethanol. My car is designed to run on it. It is cheaper and hopefully more environmentally friendly.

I have seen it at PTT stations and at those stations with the Green Leaf symbol, around the country. But I don't seem to find any in Chiang Mai.

Please let me know if you spot it and where it is located.

Thanks in advance

To the OP: I can recommend you an excellent book by Richard Dawkins "THE GOD DELUSION". After you read it, hopefully you won't need to look for any more churches ever again.

Enjoy!

Hi Ed,

I stayed at the Soho Bar room upstairs once, did not like it. Mosquitos were around all the time and access to the place was via locked garden gates. I had to call the owner upon arrival to come to the place and let me in. The bathroom and sitting-room are separated by the stair-case that is accessible from the bar downstairs. Not private nor convenient. Only the bedroom was air-conditioned.

There is the Sri Tokyo Hotel (053)211100 on the corner of the Huay Keaw Road and the moat. Nice large clean rooms, not too expensive. They promised to pick me up from the airport, but never came, even when I called them from the airport

If you like House of Male, then why not stay at the Green Palace Hotel (053)894718 located at 70 Sirimungkalacharn Road. Opposite the hotel is the Soi (lane) where House Of Male is located (a 2 mins. walk). From here you can also walk to La Vie En Rose, a new gay bar, a couple of gay restaurants next to it AND to Nimmenhaemin Rd, where the noisy clubs full of university students are (Warm Up etc.). Green Palace has clean, simple rooms with A/C and bathroom.

As for Bars, Soho is good, but full of smokers. La Vie En Rose is nice, but needs more crowds. Sabai Dee Bar, next to Santhitham Guesthouse is very good.

The new Metro bar is the nicest bar in CM, IMO, but still needs the crowds. It is opposite the Lotus Hotel and under the (yet to open) new Adam's Apple.

See list and map of gay CM at triple W dot Radchada dot com

Enjoy!

Try any of the motorbike helmet shops around the outside road of the moat. Mine cost me around 200 Baht, from memory, for a silver-lined one with hood and a zipper at the front.

If worried about overheating, a big umbrella will do the job. Or just find a shelter and wait it out. Most down-pours in Chiang Mai don't last very long. Enjoy the cooler and cleaner air while you wait

I heard there is or will be a new gay bar somewhere on Huey Keaw Rd. Anyone know anything about it?

There sure is one: it's called La Vie en Rose and it opened tonight in Chiang Mai. I was there for a couple of beers

The place is very nice with modern decor. It has lot of seats around the bar, in the lounge area and some with parasols near a nice fountain at the front.

Friendly staff, standard drink-prices and convenient location should make this a great place for people to hang out. Note: the bar is in a precinct of other bars and venues around the car park. Almost opposite Hillside 4 Condotel, drive in from Huey Keaw Rd. into the car park. The bar is located on the right.

Here are the details, copied from Long Yang Club CNX page, I hope they don't mind

"

Krit's new bar, "La Vie en Rose" is ready. On Thursday, March 5, 2009, he will receive his first guests. Go and have a look at this new gay venue, open daily from 18:00 till 24:00.

Krit will be assisted during this evening (and hopefully during many evenings to come) by Nueng and Thong.

Look for the location at the map below. There is ample parking space right in front of the bar.

From Thursday 5 on Krit and his staff will have a training period in this new environment, preparing everything for

The Grand Opening, which will be on Monday, 16 March, 2009.

(Located Next to "Nimman Kitchen By Krit") "

Thank you all for your responses. It is now all clear.

Ubonjoe thanks for the advice: I will get the re-entry permit.

Hello everyone,

What is the difference between Extension of temporary stay, Non-Imm O and Non-Imm OA?

I was wondering if anyone can answer the above question.

I have been staying in Thailand for 1 year on a Non-Imm B visa (no work permit, just for study). Before the 1 year was up, I did a last 'visa-run' to get another 90 days stamp.

Having turned the half-century mark during that last 90 days stamp, I went to apply for a Non-O retirement visa, with letter in hand from the Bank (to prove I have 800K in the bank).

The officer gave me a TM 7 form to fill out (Application for extension of temporary stay in the Kingdom), which I did. I handed over the fee of 1900 THB and waited. After a few questions, the officer began to stamp my passport then sent me to wait for the head officer's interview, which was just more flicking through the pages of photocopies, then more stamps in my passport.

At the end, I emerged with an "Application of stay is permitted up to ....(12 months from the expire date of my current 90 days permit)... Applicant must leave the Kingdom within the date specified herein. Offenders will be prosecuted. Please contact the immigration office for a RE_ENTRY PERMIT before leaving Thailand"

I also got a reminder Notice stapled in my passport, reminding me of when the next 90 days reporting is due.

THAT'S IT!!

So my question to you good people is: what have I got now? Is it extension of a Non-B, is it a Non-O or Non-OA? And which one is best for retirement? I didn't need any medical, police check. Is this how retirement permit works in LOS when applying onshore?

Any info is appreciated. Cheers!

I think it is rather cute to see the whole family on a motorcycle

I have mainly seen them in smaller cities and villages. The practice would be suicidal in BKK (in fact any bike-riding is suicidal in BKK, but I still do it More fun than Sudoku to exercise the brain-cells).

When it comes to the safety that most of the cheap helmets can offer, I would say that it is there to save the police scraping up the bits of brain from all over the place that would result from an accident even at moderate speeds.

I wear a helmet so I don't get sunburnt on my head and I don't get fined. I would not want to impose the western values and rules, some of which I wanted to leave behind, on the Thai people.

I rather like the sabai-sabai approach here. I have not seen a single accident yet in Thailand and riding a motorbike in Chiang Mai is a pleasure. The Thai drivers let you in the traffic and I was happy to return their courtesy. No honking, no swearing, no worries

Aaaah, I love living in Thailand!