mamborobert

Are you sure about that Dante or being funny (I hope).  When I have seen these about town (Wat Ket especially)  they always look like centimetres/metre marks, notwithstanding that they may report in other measures elsewhere or in both.

The P1 marker at Nawarat is certainly metric. and reports I have noted over the last ten ears or so (sample below) are using hydrology measures in metrics for Chiang Mai

I can understand and tolerate a certain amount of bickering.......but to suggest more water with Beer Lao........utterly shameful.

There has to be a limit.

I tried looking for one in many many places about two years ago.  Closest I came was the MMA type place near Airport Plaza.  Even then limited sizes and colour...basically a handful.  They suggested that there was really no good place to buy in CM (and by then I had been to quite a few) and that most people now order on line and get shipped from the States.

If you accept Thaivisa CM as fact then I suppose most members are in a pre dawn queue and having breakfast later at some doggy bag friendly venue at Promenada,

If we are going to compare like with like...A Thai will find it very difficult to get a  permanent or temporary retirement visa to the UK or USA or Australia....considerably more than the other way around.

Apart from the quotas that are in place in these countries they can perhaps get an investor/retiree visa if they are a multi millionaire....still temporary....whereas any number of western pensioners on a lower income  can basically rock up in Thailand on a  tourist visa and convert

Then there are the comprehensive  health checks for retirees in those countries so they do not become a burden on the public health system, the mandatory requirement for private health insurance, for some a language proficiency requirement, the requirement for a penal clearance certificate etc etc none of which are in place here for temporary visas for retirement (there seems to be more western criinals here that Thai criminals in the west )

All I am saying is it is still an easy visa......even in CM, my opinion, your experience may vary which I accept.  That does not however negate my good experiences to date and I am concerned that "agitating" will make things more difficult as evidenced perhaps by the recent issue with Residency certs.

Queing for visas in the US and UK and many other Western countries is (or was) quite common.  There were weeks in Australia when you could not get in as overseas students queued up for renewals for the new study year.  A lot has been cut out by making electronic lodgement for some visas for some people in some countries....

It is a hell of a lot easier for a US citizen to get a retirement extension in CM than a Thai national to get to the US let alone obtain a similar type visa.  Imagine if for example  requirements were enforced to show funds unlike the current statutory declaration type set up here now.   With the drop in the pound for example there would be a few that would not make it.  Likewise now consulates confirm only  the signature on statement rather than veracity of statement.....Enforcement here to the level of the US or UK would cause a lot more problems for some ......and no doubt cut down the queues through less applicants.  Are we going to argue for stricter evidentiary enforcement as an alternate way to reduce waiting times  

I imagine not many local expats  have not had the experience of applying for visas in their own countries.  I have applied in US and UK and PI etc etc...Thailand is the easiest by far, an absolute breeze......and quick given the little supporting documentation that is currently asked for.

Just one example

http://www.irishtimes.com/news/social-affairs/garda-measures-aim-to-tackle-long-visa-queues-1.2369711

As a bonus at least in Thailand there is a queue system and not a quota system.  In most western countries you can qualify but not actually get granted a visa...sometimes for years....and these are for temporary visas still. 

Bad as it is, and specifically worse in CM....I would keep quiet while we are on a "relatively" good thing. 

Now covered by CM108, usually pretty quick of the mark with a bit more details on local news and events.

http://www.cm108.com/bbb/topic/1264-ด่วน-รับแจ้งมีคนจมน้ำที่-แกรนแคนยอน-หางดง-กำลังค้นหา/

Sorry for addition in hindsight,  I presume with the Church you are talking about the Lanna International Church which would have to be a good 500 metres off the main road (though Rat Uhit Soi 3 is about half the distance assuming you have soi number correct).  If so there is pretty much nothing public transport wise that cruises down that way with any regularity day or night.  In the day time you will see the very odd Songtaew taking a quicker back route from the train station or Don Chan to where they want to go to collect fares rather than collect on the way.   Wat Muang Kai is pretty active community wise near there  and have a very popular outdoor aerobics class in the evenings (not sure about rainy season).  Its is an active "working" Wat and has many regular community and religious events.  There are also some very nice places to eat or grab a coffee within walking distance especially when you make your way down Rat Uhit proper towards the train tracks....again though this is a Thai area and Thai focus drink and food wise

That road from the Lanna International Church to the Chiang Mai Lamphun road gets reasonable traffic in the day but it's not really anything that people "walk"...As I recall (as a driver) there is not even any footpath for great chunks of it.  Definitely not lit for a night time walk.

Arranging or obtaining transport is going to be a make or break for you.......

I have lived in Wat Ket for the last 7 or so years and am familiar with the area you mentioned near Gymkhanna and Northwards.  To me it is very much under appreciated and quite a few nice houses/town houses about and have not heard or had any trouble from the blocks of small units scattered about.  It is very close to the old old city, Rimping, Don Chan, ....and a fairly good run to Festival or even Airport bypassing the city.   Soi dogs do not seem to be a problem.  Flooding has been a problem but a number of years ago and I am not sure if the old flood map is of any relevance now (hopefully) given work on flood gates for Ping.

Transport is another issue altogether...there are more than enough traveling down the main road in the day time though the number is deceptive as have set routes taking off from the Iron Bridge to Lamphun etc.  You do not see many "freelance" or "red"  Songtaews and never really a tuk tuk.....and at night it is pretty much non existent. 

I love it ...but I have transport and it is so quick to just take off, cross one of the bridges and you are away.  Without your own transport or a solid set of reliable and trustworthy  phone numbers for you to call tuk tuks or songtaews direct I would not like your chances after sun down getting out of the area and getting back might be costly.  It is hard enough in the day (though if you can walk down towards Rimping or you will often see the odd tuk tuk and Songtaew).  It generally not an area where tuks tuks or songtaews cruise in daytime...let alone night time.  Even outside the many night life places the first time you will ever see waiting tuk tuks with any certainty is when you get up to the Goodview which is a  hike for you.  You can chance waiting near  Charoen Muang near the bridge and you will probably score a ride.....eventually.....not too nice when its raining or you are insecure or on a time schedule.

If you can fix transport ....to me its ideal.

Question....."why are the elderly so bitter"

Answer "because they got there before us"

12 minutes ago, DonaldBattles said:

Until you have done a side by side comparison you will never know. I did a blind taste test between Thai French  and Aussie beef and they were judged equal. Approximately 35,000,000 head of beef cattle are slaughtered yearly in the USA and all are grain fed. If pen feeding was not necessary then it would not be done at this huge expense for transport and grain.

Australia does not have a classification for beef quality like the USA does and there are no independent inspectors in the slaughter facilities to stamp the quality grade on each quarter section. Each person has to draw his own conclusion based on his comparative experience. Australia exports a large amount of ground beef to the USA each year and is done so on the basis of price.

We are getting WAAAAAY of topic BUT....

Australia exports whole beef, lamb and goat to the US.  Beef is grain fed AND grass fed.

There is a Meat Standard and regular inspections by Quarantine.  Given an island state and export driven (2/3rds of all agricultural products) they are conscious of diseases coming in and protecting export market (hence still supply fowl to Asia and beef despite mad cow scares).  The live trade in somewhat troubled given the conditions on ships for lamb and goat particularly going to Middle Eastern countries as well as the religious slaughter methods for Indonesia in particular.

On topic...slightly Australia also has restrictions on Turkey from the USA, along with a number of other countries.  There appears to be genuine widespread concern over the product perhaps you could focus your efforts on product improvement for all export markets rather than use Thailand only for retaliation as an example.......This is the most recent USA USTR government report extract.

The local natives seem somewhat concerned (including the Chiang Mai Provincial Public Health Office) as there have been a number of lengthy Thai language announcements on radio and tv and internet and print media.  Most are using the umbrella term Flavivirus rather than Zika specifically.  This was posted on Friday and additions made earlier today.  Call me paranoid but spraying in a bedroom? (at least the bedding is off) as one photo shows is a bit of a concern given the deaths at the old Downtown Inn.

http://www.cm108.com/bbb/topic/1221-มีคลิปนายแพทย์สาธารณสุขจังหวัดเชียงใหม่ย้ำผู้ป่วยไวรัสซิกาหายแล้ว/

For the Thai readers among posters, cm108 has already started some limited reports.

Last time this happened they were pretty quick of the mark getting photos sent in direct from people in Burma and CR, some of the snaps of road damage and crevices or land displacement were unique and impressive.

http://www.cm108.com/bbb/topic/1169-1734-น-แผ่นดินไหวพม่า-ขนาด-70-สะเทือนถึงภาคเหนือ/

http://www.cm108.com/bbb/topic/1170-แผ่นดินไหว-70-ริกเตอร์ที่เมียนม่ากระทบถึงเชียงใหม่/

Little now now but probably well worth a look tomorrow for those interested.

56 minutes ago, NancyL said:

Isn't that a part of the mall that doesn't open until 11 am?  

 

How are people suppose to a get to them if they find that all the queue numbers for retirement extensions have been distributed (after they arrived at, say, 6 am) and they still want to get their retirement extension taken care of that same day?  Isn't 11 am a little late even for G4T to be able to "jump the queue"?  And besides, will their potential customers want to wait around between finding that they're left in the cold with queue number distribution at 8:30 am until they can get into the G4T office at 11 am?

 

Oh, maybe there will still be a G4T "representative" working the Info Desk outside Immigration at that early hour, you suppose?

Can't help yourself can you.  And you being always so quick to advise everyone of Thailand's strict defamation laws....Proverbs 26:11

At least the thread can now be safely closed now that you have had your say.....again

CM108 covered a false alarm at http://www.cm108.com/bbb/topic/1073-ชาวบ้านย่านนิมมานฯ-พบวัตถุต้องสงสัย-ตรวจสอบพบเป็นกล่องเครื่องมือช่าง/.

So there is some awareness and action.

Not sure why anybody is having a go at the security staff or army.  They cannot be everywhere and there is not a lot of wiggle room for bravery when you are paid 300 baht a day or conscripted.

In NI whenever there was a blast, bomb detected, killing, riot there was a nice phrase applied and perhaps it should be considered in the totality of CM  verses where the problems occurred, or in fact the wider world that we now live in......and even for the Southern provinces where we have had 6500 deaths in the last decade and a bit........Reporting the next day would inevitably carry the phrase that "last night there was an acceptable level of violence".

CM wise we would be far better off having the BIB and Army out in numbers enforcing the laws of the land at Songkran.   This year 442 deaths and 3656 injuries in 7 days...and CM usually tops the local list.  Perspective people... a pot plant is unlikely at this stage to kill or maim in Chiang Mai any day soon.....put your money on Somchai .with no license, insurance, or registration, intoxicated and on the Superhighway in April.

Isn't Wasn't flooding more likely at your place Gonzo....coupled with periodic transformer explosions. 

Sinkholes should be the last of your problems.

Good to see that Bangkok with largest vote for yes also had largest block of voters nationally at 69.4% who did not read the constitution.

Well, as I feared the great healing did not happen and we still have a fractured Thailand.

The three "insurgent" southern provinces voted no. Fourteen Isaan provinces voted no.

In the North (ie us) CM, CR,  Lamphun and Phrae all voted no.

Guess happiness only came back to Bangkok and Central. Still, to me, a low turn out, many unwilling, or unable, or uninformed, or uninterested did not vote. 

Given the the vote split and arrests and court cases to come cannot see CM getting into the Junta's good books this decade

1 hour ago, NancyL said:

We stocked up on wine and scotch.  Also kitty litter and cat food.  You don't know what's coming and I remember what it was like when supplies from Bangkok were cut off during the floods in 2011.  

Kitty litter and cat food......No wonder you like the Expat Club breakfast mornings so much.

But at least the priorities were right with wine (presume White with cat food) and scotch first.

Sooner or later the pensions will go up when they stop artificially propping up the baht.....Hang in there

Constitutional votes in Thailand have usually been lower turn out that normal elections.

Having said that the Electoral Commission is now quoted on Khaosod of not commenting on turn out numbers officially until Wednesday but still advised they" Expect 70% turnout, an which would be an increase over 2007 referendum’s 57% " under the heading "Referendum Day: Turnout Strong, Knowledge Low"

What will be interesting is the break down of number of votes for and against in Bangkok and Central as well as percentage of eligible voters in that area, compared with same data for CM.  This would give some indication as to who continues to hold sway here.....and likely future attention in CM from the junta.

If this was about "healing" we still need to see a uniform decision from the South separatist areas (Yala, Patani etc) Bangkok and Central (Dem strongholds), and the North (CM)/North East (Issan) PT strongholds.

A uniform strong yes vote would also seem indicate that those who voted did so contrary to the wishes of the political parties they normally support).  What was the old curse "may you live in interesting times"

Quick question.  Given that some  people will not bother to vote, others have no id, others cannot travel to register in time, or cannot travel to vote......is there a minimum number of eligible voters that must vote in order for the referendum to be valid anyway.

I mean a 51% yes vote with less than 50% voting seems like a recipe for disaster, lacks a certain legitimacy, and may reflect a greater Bangkok/Central voting block.

Much like the Brexit vote...is there a minimum number of voters for validity?

At the risk of incurring the eternal wrath of some......I got mine done by G4T next to Immi at Promenada.

Showed them what I wanted from web site and because everything is digital now can shoot away until it met my requirements....

It's not that hard when you look at the web site...size, background, no reflection, no obscuring, look straightforwards etc etc.

https://www.passports.gov.au/passportsexplained/theapplicationprocess/passportphotographguidelines/Pages/default.aspx

Handed photos in at Consular visit (I think October last year from memory) and processed no problems.

Do not think there is an approved one in CM.  Approval or sanctioning of one or even recommendations can leave one open to allegations of impropriety and it just ain't worth the hassle for LE or A based staff.

I see there have been more invitations to transit through Kawila on the way to Bangkok today.

The good people at the Home Office have updated their travel advice yesterday with specific reference to the 7 August vote..."political tensions are likely to increase leading up to and during the polls; you should avoid political gatherings and monitor the advice of local authorities and local media".

Pretty standard stuff and no doubt others to follow as/when/if things deteriorate having said that the advice given above as far as avoiding demonstrations etc has been much included in circulars for a year or more by most embassies.

Might be best if people have some supplies on hand....especially those dependent on medications. Can't hurt, might help.

Joe

This is a country that currently has police generals saying they will prosecute using the full weight of the law 2 8-year-old girls who took what they thought was a couple of pretty, pink pieces of paper from a gungy wall. It's a country that will send you to jail for 40 years for clicking 'like' on the wrong post on FB. People speak obliquely because that's safer than being direct.

It am sure it will get better after the 7 August vote......sure. Though I do note there was a new set of invites to Kawilla before being moved on to Bangers.

Have the inside goss from a local CM boy done good that all will be fine

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/breakingnews/Thaksin-says-democracy-to-return-to-Thailand-soon-30291435.html

Half expecting that consulates would issue some notice to citizens, but then half unexpected that they would in current climate.

Think I will sit out for a few days and catch up on GOT....

What was the old curse......"May you live in interesting times".

Positive note however, no charges against the seditious monkeys in the temple ...so far.

That dishevelled drunk looks like Tezza at the Old Melbourne. If so, went there myself to see the show, distant memory recalls the Old Melbourne but definite venue for boxing with Brad Hardie of Sth Freo who was a pretty gun boxer like most of the Freo boys then as Jacko attests in interview.