connda

I guess the next step is to schedule the Welcome Back to Thailand Parade though Bangkok. Well, once all the water's drained -- but dang, the floods would have never happened if Khun Taskin had been at the helm in the first place!!!

There's about 700 Hondas that are about to show up at your nearest 2nd hand car dealer to be sold to the sorriest sucker to walk by. I pity the poor chumps that buy them.

Stilts?

Uh-huh.

Ha ha ha ha ha -- this goes a long way in restoring my confidence in the LOS.

Might be your ISP. I have TOT DSL (Lamphun) and can connect without a problem.

I have 3BB in Chiang Mai. I'll have to try that when I'm back in town.

I'm in Chiang Mai now and I'm unable to connect to the site. Speed test shows Triple T Internet PCL although I pay my bill to 3BB.

Hot-spot shield is your friend...

After living in Thailand for over 4 years, many of my clothes are wearing out. Things I need include underwear (whitey-tighties), T-shirts (plain colored), and socks, especially sport socks.

I've bought items like this before, but I've found two things:

1. Most off-the-shelf clothing like this is "cut" for "slender" Thai men's bodies. T-shirts and briefs are always too narrow, even if you buy X-large. T-shirts don't fit right in my chest, shoulder, and back. Briefs don't fit in the waist and hips. Socks are usually too small. In North America, items marked "Large" fit me fine.

2. Most off-the-shelf clothing is made poorly: seams rip out, material is thin and rips -- it's basically junk. And it's almost impossible to find 100% cotton socks. All I find is acrylic and synthetic garbage. It seems like the good stuff goes to the "export market" and the junk finds its way into the Thai retail market.

So, I'd like to find some places in Chiang Mai that sell "Farang size", export quality clothing including T-shirts, polo shirts, underwear, and 100% cotton socks that fit. If I need to pay a premium - fine! I want quality clothing that fits.

Before anyone says, "Go to the Mall.", please specify -- what store in the mall and which mall.

BTW, I've spent most of my stay in Issan, so I haven't explored the shopping in Chiang Mai.

Thanks!!!

Sure (wink, wink)!

Does anyone know of any gyms or health clubs in the Lamphun area?

Thanks!

I'm looking for an apartment in the downtown area of CM in the 2500 to 4000 baht range. One room with a bathroom, clean, fan or A/C, hot-water and I'm happy. I live here, so looking for something long-term. If anyone knows of apartments in this price range, please let me know.

Thanks!

My man Khun Uhte is very good. Tung Hotel Rd soi 1 about 800 mtrs down first garage.

Mind you he says that over time carburetor bodies do wear out and would agree with, paulchiangmai, that a new cab is the way to go.

john

I've got 16+ Km on the bike. For the price of the carb, I agree: replacing would probably be less of a headache the fixing it. They have already disassembled and cleaned it (so they say). I think I'll go that route. Thanks for the replies.

I'm on the same quest and went to CMU last week to be shunted around from one place to another for half an hour, finally ending up at the right one. It's called the Science and Technology Service Center and is right next to the Chemistry department building and across the street from the Physics department and is a pink building with a large gateway type banner with the name of it on the top.

I originally went to the Water Department in Wurlai Road and was given a leaflet that seemed to offer water testing for about 1500 baht but told that it would take two months (maybe done in BKK?). They sent me to CMU where I was given the attached list of tests and their prices. The problem is that they weren't able to tell me what I needed to test for (I'd like to know if we can filter it further and use it for drinking) and doing all the tests will set you back 15000 baht or the equivalent of 18000 litres of the bottled stuff.

The obvious things would include heavy metals, nitrates and coliform bacteria - maybe someone else here can come up with a list. BTW this thread might get more response in the DIY Housing Forum. Mods??

PS Thanks to Tywais for supplying me with the correct name and location of the STCC

Thanks for the excellent info!

No luck with my regular 3bb... I turn on HotSpot Shield and it works fine...

My guess is that it's related to the ISPs. We might be collectively be able to tell if this is the case if the people reading this post try the site, and then comment if they can connect or not connect, and which ISP they use. If you're not sure of your ISP, go to http://www.speedtest.net/ and it will report your IP address and ISP in the lower left hand corner of the scan window.

Might be your ISP. I have TOT DSL (Lamphun) and can connect without a problem.

I have 3BB in Chiang Mai. I'll have to try that when I'm back in town.

My wife has a well on her land. I'd like to get the water tested. Does anyone know where I can get a full-spectrum water test here in Chiang Mai?

I wouldn't buy a new or used car or truck in Thailand until I'm sure the inventory has been rolled. Once a vehicle is water damaged, it's good as scape metal -- unless you enjoy taking your vehicle to the shop all of the time. Your chances of picking up a water damaged used vehicle is probably better than 50-50 now, and new cars and trucks -- I just don't trust car dealers.

I'm looking for a skilled, competent Honda motorcycle mechanic in Chiang Mai.

My Honda Dream 125 is having carburetor problems that the local Honda dealership can't seem to fix.

Can anyone give me a recommendation. Thanks!

I came to Thailand from a temperate region of American that had four distinct seasons. I grew vegetables in my home garden and would like to do that here also. But now that I'm in a topical climate with three seasons, I'm lost.

Are there any books or resources (in English) that cover the growing seasons for various types of vegetables in Northern Thailand. I'm interested in things like tomatoes, potatoes, celery , peas and beans, onions, garlic, greens, ginger, gangala, chilies and peppers (both hot and sweet), and herbs such as cilantro, basil, and mints.

Any suggestions? Thanks!

There was an article in the "other" paper sometime last year, don't remember exactly, in which the Education Minister proposed bringing in something like1,000 or more qualified Native English Teachers, and paying them a salary of 80-100k a month. That idea died before the ink on the newspaper had even dried.

A little over 2 years ago I was asked by the head of the English Dept of a well known school here in Chiang Mai to join their staff as an English Teacher. I have a B.A. in English Composition & Creative writing. I told him I would like to observe for a week first before giving him a decision.

On Monday, my first day, the teacher gave the students a tests. These students are in the 12-13 year old age bracket. The test took up the entire class period, so I talked to her about teaching and how things were done there, and the more I heard, the less I liked. The next day the teacher announced to each student what their grade was, but did not return their papers. When I asked why, she informed me that "We don't do that." I asked how they were supposed to know what they got wrong so they wouldn't make the same mistake the next time and she merely shrugged and said: "Not my problem."

After that class I went to talk to the head of the English Department and told him about it. He also just shrugged and told me that is the way they school said they have to do it. He doesn't agree with it either, but that's the way it is.

That's all it took for me to make my decision.

If Thailand cannot overcome their "superiority" attitude, and fear of "loss of face" by asking a foreigner to help, and are willing to pay for it, they are never going to get good, qualified English Teachers here. And if they think the "loss of face" would be bad now, wait a few years and see what happens in the AEC when Thailand finds themselves "sucking hind tit" because of their lack of English skills. I could be wrong on this, but I read somewhere that even the current Foreign Minister cannot speak English!

som nom na!

Exactly! +1

"Just hiring native English speakers is not really worth it because these people do not have teaching skills."

Well Mr. Jian, I guess you can hire native Thai English majors...but wait: Just hiring native Thai English majors is not really worth it because these people do not have speaking or writing skills! And their understanding of English grammar terms might be better than mine, but most can't use proper grammar in a spoken or written sentence. I speak from three years of experience that included teaching native Thai English teachers who taught in primary and secondary Thai government schools.

Personally I think Mr. Jian (and others like him) should use a narrower brush to paint this picture -- because it borders on xenophobia...as usual. It may take a few months for a "green" native English speaker (with a 120 hour TESOL) to gain enough teaching experience to become an effective English language teacher. However, it takes years for the average native speaking Thai to gain adequate fluency in English to become an effective English language teacher.

A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush. Please chew on that for awhile Mr. Jian. Then you wonder why you only have 50% of the teachers that you need.

I'm sure the next thing we'll hear out of Mr. Jian's office is that teacher over 35 years of age are not really worth it because these people no longer have teaching skills. If it's not xenophobia, it's age discrimination.

Well, so much for my opinion -- now here's Somchai with the weather!

I'm having a difficult time finding a safe deposit box. All the banks I've been to just say "No have, no have."

Does anyone know of a bank within Chiang Mai or Lamphun provinces that currently have safe deposit boxes for rent?

Thanks!

I'm having a difficult time finding a safe deposit box. All the banks I've been to just say "No have, no have."

Does anyone know of a bank within Chiang Mai or Lamphun provinces that currently have safe deposit boxes for rent?

Hey! Think on the bright side: In BBK the locals can just float their krathongs down their sois from their front door step (or second story window)

"Water influx outpaces drainage" Well.......yeah! Who was the rocket scientist that figured this out?

555 to The Nation: Nothing like reporting the obvious!!!!!!

Where there's smoke, there's usually fire.