curtklay

Your PH will not stabilize until you raise the TOTAL ALKALINITY to 100-120 ppm. You do this with Sodium Bicarbonate (Baking Soda). Then if the PH is still low, you can raise it with Soda Ash. Get a good 4 in 1 test kit that checks PH (red reagent) and Total Alkalinity (blue reagent). Once balance is stable, shock the hell out of it with chlorine to kill the algae. The chlorine test should turn very dark yellow. Run the filter 24 hours and keep the chlorine high until the water clears. An algaecide may be needed if the algae has gotten far out of control. Clean the filter after the water clears. The alkalinity test should be done regularly. When the alkalinity drops too low, the PH bounces around and the chlorine becomes ineffective. There should be no need to drain the pool.

Several off topic and rude posts have been removed. If you can't help the OP with a nice and appropriate response, please don't.

Sorry Curt. Some members have nothing better to do that derail topics.

I asked a few Thai's around here what it means...it's just a "cutie" thing girls do. Nobody I spoke with here relates it to what we remember when we were MUCH younger...the peace sign. It may have started in Japan...not sure about that...but I see it all the time in Japanese articles oriented towards the younger crowd.

Hope all is well with you!!

Craig

Thanks, Craig.

Wow, I wasn't expecting any rude answers. Someone asked me about it and I didn't know, so I posted it here. This forum can be such a helpful tool, it's a shame that some have to treat it as a joke.

Anyway, I think you and the other responders are correct. It's just a cutesy thing. I found an article on the web that surmised it dates back to when Burmese soldiers used to cut off Thai prisoners fingers, but that doesn't make sense to me, and I doubt that young Thai girls know anything about that.

http://www.thaisabai.org/2009/09/the-thai-two-finger-salute/

Thanks for your help, and I hope all is good with you too!

Does anyone know if 2 fingers raised in a "V" symbol has a different meaning than "Peace" to Thais? Whenever I take someone's picture, they almost always raise the index and middle finger in the familiar symbol made popular in the sixties. It seems so common here, and rather outdated in the West, so I'm curious if it has another meaning that I'm not aware of.

wally1k.

You need a Re Entry Permit to keep your extension valid.

If you do not have one your permision to stay will expire when you leave Thailand.

If you have one you will be given around 3 months when you return.

Re Entry Permit costs 1,000 Baht from Immigration.

You cannot apply for a Non Imm O-A Visa in China.

Question:

Is the OP still required to do the 90 day address reporting while in China for 10 months?

While I was reading this thread, it went from 3 pages to 5. Very entertaining all the way.

The OP is highly suspicious. An educated I-phone app writer, but she doesn't spell very well.

The "self supporting visa" is just plain ridiculous, and the heavy duty mechanic/day trader/astronomer......well, enough said.

Gentlemen,

Thanks for your thoughts and tips. They are much appreciated, and have given me a starting point.

Sounds like the first thing I need is a suitcase full of money.

Let me be the first to wish a HAPPY SONGKRAN to all!

I'm thinking about skipping next year's Songkran fun and spending the week in Singapore. Having never been there, I'd like to find a good tour package. It will be just my wife and self, and I know that we would like to see the zoo, night safari, Universal Studios, and the incredible architecture. Beyond that, I'm open to suggestions.

I'm hoping for some good recommendations and advice from you guys. Hotels restaurants, things to do, etc. It would be especially nice to find a tour operator who can plan a fun filled vacation week, and handle all the transportation. Your experiences will be appreciated.

Thanks in advance for your input!

Agree - not much difference in interest payable for the 3 month duration, on THB800k, and as an existing HSBC Premier customer, it's very easy to move money in and out and HSBC are familiar with all that is required for extension of stay. During my last Ex of Stay I used a 3 month fixed deposit, (as I have done three times previously), but this seemed to confound the Immigration staff, so in future I will use a savings account, which they seem to understand.

I agree, a regular savings account in your name only, will give you no problems at immigration. Get the letter and update the passbook within a day or 2 of going to immigration. I get mine the day before. Don't worry about interest rates...they all suck.

Did the same last week at Hua Hin and just left the sections you refer to blank. No problem from the IO and he didn't amend the form.

Thanks, Don. That makes sense to me.

I know this has been asked before, but I'm going to ask it again just to be sure.

I will be going to Nan Immigration next week to get my second "1 year extension based on retirement" to my US type O visa.

This time I want to also get a single re-entry permit (TM.8) to have on hand in case I decide to leave Thailand for a trip, although I have no plans to do so at this time. My question is, do I fill in the section asking when I intend to leave and return, or just leave it blank?

Previous posts say to fill in fictitious dates. If that is correct, can the dates be anytime during the valid year? Would it be advisable to pick a fictitious date toward the beginning, middle , or end of the valid year? Does the fact that I do 90 day mail in address reports (TM-47) have any bearing on the dates?

Logic tells me to leave the dates blank, but I know TIT and all logic must be suspended. Thanks in advance. :jap:

Just looking for the latest information on when you should apply for the 5 year Thai Driver License. I have the 1 year license that is due to expire on July 13. To renew and get the 5 year license, do I have to wait until after it expires? That seems to be the information I see on other posts, but a lot of them are several years old. Is there more current information or is this still the rule?

Geez . . who edits this stuff?

Dead or alive? We don't know

Reading comprehension. A skill not all of us have mastered yet.

Maybe...but this was very poorly written.

When i build my house they sprayed to whole roof from the inside with a special sort of expanding foam.

It is delivered in two separate barrels and mixed via a spray gun when they apply it.

They cover the whole roof including the hangers, boarding etc etc.

The foam expand to about 10 cm and it came with a 10 year guarantee against any roof leakage and no danger any more of roof tiles blowing of in high winds as the foam acts as a glue to the roof tiles and seals everything in.

This stuff works great and is easily done even when the house is already finished as they only an access hatch to the roof.

The temperature dropped about 10 oC under the roof after the foam was installed.

Not cheap but perfect stuff.

Thanks for the input.

So far, the score is 2-0 in favor of the spray foam.

Price of KFC in Bangkok about 130 baht

Price is KFC in New Zealand 140 Baht

Wages for staff in New Zealand $13 hour = 290 baht an hour

Wages for staff in Bangkok 27 baht an hour

KFC, restaurant brands in New Zealand still make a profit when they pay 10 times more in wages than thailand and charge the same price

Also the chicken is no doubt sourced cheaper here too

I am a capitalist but when I see the disgusting super profits these businessmen make while paying their staff nothing so they can buy their latest merc to show their friends

it makes me want to be a socialist

Same goes for McD.

As long as their is cheap supply of labour in Thailand the chinese will continue to make massive profits

NZ gets $13 per hour? I remember in Aus they employed people for around $5-6 per hour and these are mostly teenagers 16yrs and above. This was there pocket money, yes they were unskilled and just wanted some extra money but they also work very hard, and having customers constantly complain = no fun.

I assume nearly all major food chains are doing exactly the same thing. They probably all do cheap labor practices.

For those of you who think 27baht per hour is enough to survive then I suggest for them to try it and see how far they get while having to pay bills in this economy

Yeah, I don't believe KFC in NZ is paying $13 per hour.

This is strictly a minimum wage job in the US that pays $7.25 an hour in most states.

At least you guys have builders to come and back up their work!

As a renter, I regularly complain to management about literally liters of water which pour into my office and bedroom during each rain. Manager/owner's response: "Live with it. ALL Thai houses leak." Indeed six families all around me (living in duplexes built by the same builder) all hang out their bedding and floor mats to dry after each rain inundates their homes. Small comfort.

It is dumbfounding how crappy the building techniques are considering how much rain falls here. In the US, before they put on the tiles or shingles, there is plywood sheeting with felt, tar paper, or a membrane on top of that. Here you're lucky if they put a sheet of foil over the framework. (I don't even have that). Guess that's one benefit of permits and inspections being required.

Pib's roof looks exceptionally well done, and I'm using his pictures to show my builder how to correct the valleys.

Thanks again, Pib!

The valleys could very well be the problem. Heck, even as a kid I remember my Dad always smearing some more tar in the valleys because of leaks. Seemed most leaks on our metal tile roof always occurred in the valleys.

The side metal strips of my valleys (I live in Bangkok) extend approx 8-12 inches "under the tile" on each side. Also, the trough of my valleys are real close to being as wide as yours, however, I only have approx 2-3 inch gap between the tiles for the water to drop down into the valleys. Yours look like there is a 6 to 8 inch gap between the tiles. A person shouldn't need concrete/patch material on the side of the valleys/tiles like yours appear to have....this is probably done for appearance and to help keep water out since the gap between the tiles is so wide.

Thanks Pib.

I think we're on the way to solving this. I met with the builder, and he admits he made the valleys extra wide because he thought it would drain more water that way. Well intentioned, but unfortunately incorrect. We are negotiating on the cost to fix it. He really is a good builder, and did a beautiful job of building my house from just pictures and international phone calls, so I can't be too hard on him. Hopefully we will get this resolved.

Here's a couple pictures of my home's valleys....and I looked around at my neighbors' houses on my soi and the next soi over, and they are all the same way....only a small gap. I never hear anyone complaining about leaks. Actually there appears to be only a 1 to 2" gap between the tiles. Or said another way, there is about a two finger width gap.

Thanks again!

You've helped me pinpoint the problem. Your valleys are obviously done the correct way, and are a world apart from mine.

PLEEEEASE...Ban all the soaps!!

The valleys could very well be the problem. Heck, even as a kid I remember my Dad always smearing some more tar in the valleys because of leaks. Seemed most leaks on our metal tile roof always occurred in the valleys.

The side metal strips of my valleys (I live in Bangkok) extend approx 8-12 inches "under the tile" on each side. Also, the trough of my valleys are real close to being as wide as yours, however, I only have approx 2-3 inch gap between the tiles for the water to drop down into the valleys. Yours look like there is a 6 to 8 inch gap between the tiles. A person shouldn't need concrete/patch material on the side of the valleys/tiles like yours appear to have....this is probably done for appearance and to help keep water out since the gap between the tiles is so wide.

Thanks Pib.

I think we're on the way to solving this. I met with the builder, and he admits he made the valleys extra wide because he thought it would drain more water that way. Well intentioned, but unfortunately incorrect. We are negotiating on the cost to fix it. He really is a good builder, and did a beautiful job of building my house from just pictures and international phone calls, so I can't be too hard on him. Hopefully we will get this resolved.

Thanks Gents for the input!

While the jury is still out on the foam spray, I had a "roofing specialist" come out and inspect. His explanation is that the roof gullies are installed incorrectly. A photo is attached showing that the metal strip does not extend far enough under the tiles to keep water from seeping in (most obvious on the left side of the photo). Once the water gets in, it will run in various paths causing the drips onto the ceiling in various places. In addition, he says the tiles should have been brought further in over the gully forming an overhang, and exposing less of the gully.

It seems to make sense, and would explain why I hear the drops hitting the ceiling in different areas depending on the wind and how hard it's raining. The gully issue was also brought up in a previous post by "Rimmer" who said 90% of roof leaks are related to the gullies or where roof sections join. (Thanks to Rimmer for pointing that out).

So, I'm convinced enough to confront my builder about how he wants to handle the 5 year warranty he gave on the roof. I'm sure I'll be met with some resistance, but I'm not going to let it slide. The expert said in 2 years, the ceilings will be ruined and I believe it. Since my first post, it rained again and water did actually drip through the ceiling in one spot, so it is a worsening situation.

A photo of one gully is attached. Any further comments are appreciated.

I just renewed with Viriyah. Got both stickers. Maybe I don't need them, but like the OP says the local cops seem to like them and never stop me at road checks.

I think I've read all the posts about leaking roofs, but am more confused than ever on how to fix them.

My house is less than 2 years old with tile roofing, but they did not install foil under the tiles. When it rains, I can hear drops hitting the gypsum ceiling in various places, but have only seen small water spots appear in 2 locations. The water has yet to actually leak through the ceiling, and the spots dry up very quickly when the rain stops so it seems minor, but it's making me nervous and the dripping sound is very annoying. The builder has been out twice, patched, siliconed, and painted several locations, but to no avail. He even took a hose up on the roof and sprayed while a worker sat in the loft area. They said they found it, but nothing has changed. During the recent rains, I went up into the loft area myself, but could not see any sign of a leak from the tiles even when it was pouring. Everything was bone dry, which amazed me since I could still hear it and the water spots again formed on the ceiling. I have another "repairman" coming out to inspect, but am expecting more of the same, so I'm seeking feedback from TV members on the process of spraying foam on the undersides of the tiles, particularly the SPRAYME PURFOAM company. I've read a lot of previous posts, but it seems to be a very mixed bag. Some say it's great, others say it's horrid. IMHO, it looks like it could be a viable solution to a minor dripping problem. I do have ventilation areas in the roof so I don't think the heat build up that others have warned about would be a problem as long as the foam was not sprayed over them. I also don't think that puddling would be an issue since the leak is minor, and it seems to me the water would just get pushed back out from wherever it's coming in since the foam dries hard and thick. But I'm no expert on this. Actually, I thought the ideal solution would be to seal the tiles from the outside with a clearcoat spray, but whenever I get into that, all I get are blank stares.

So, I'm seeking some current advice from anyone who has recent experience with the spray foam on the inside, or anyone who has succesfully sealed the outside by another method. I am amazed that roof leaks are such a common problem in a country that receives so much rain. I'm also amazed that the most common fix is to put a bucket on the floor!

I'd put my money on that 'sharp object' being a knife. Ever tried cutting the arms and legs off your grannie using a feather? You'd be the laughing stock of the Serial Killers Club.

How they decided the time of death was six hours earlier from only a torso I don't know. Thai torso, it seems, is ' waist to upper legs'. Interesting. That throws into disarray the whole 150 year development of Anatomy. We've been led to believe a torso involved a headless, armless, leg less set of remains. Now the Thais starighten otu the entire world. It's arse and thighs only!

I expect from the rigour mortis, the 'torso' having an erection, they got the six hours. Maybe even tested the blood for viagra. Then conferred how long each of them manages to stay stiff for and settled on a collective of 6 hours. Then the Chief of Police through a spanner in the works by informing his underlings ' I take two.'

Police now adjust the time of death to anywhere between 6 and 12 hours.

I wonder if having found a single piece of the victim they bothered to look in the other Four City Corners? A bit too obvious that one. Probably missed it.

Word of advice. Get rid of any cardboard boxes you may have been saving. Thai logic; as used by butchering murderers. Also, no more shopping at Watsons - white plastic bags are for blood and not shampoo and aspirin.

Still, there's nothing to worry about as the Police have narowed it down, based on all the forensics available to ' a man in his 30s'. That puts me and the wife in the clear then.

How about you?

Would be quite a funny post, if it wasn't so serious?

RIP poor chap.

Oh <deleted>> it, still a funny post.

Really? I didn't find it funny at all.

Count me out next year too. It's gotten totally out of control and dangerous.

Yeah it's another 'happy new years'.....that makes three this year....ours, Chinese and then Thai new years, which is way over the top. I enjoyed my first one 12 yrs ago and then from then on it became an 'inconvenient nusance'.

And yeah, let the natives have fun at the expense of safety for their kids and themselves.....not to mention others harmed by their stupid over the top drinking habits.

I say the above after just having participating in a local village 3 day party that I had to attend to save face for the wife.....make my apearance throw some water, fake drink some lousy beer chiang and exit quietly. What I witnessed out in our small moobaan in the ricefields was total insanity......parents drunk while their kids ran into traffic, throwing full 5 gallon buckets of water on older folks that were just trying to get home dry, teenagers [age 12 and 13 drunk like their parents] then weaving off drunk on their motocycs. And to answer the OP's question.....it will last until Monday [and then some more].

Thais are wonderful people, but they just take 'sanook' way over the top. I love them when they are sober.

Next year, I'm out of the country for songkran!!

me too but I couldn't get a flight this year enjoyment is one thing but it's just an orgy without the sex - a million miles from the respectful mild splashing of water

Thanks for pointing out that post. I did not see it previously, and it answers all my questions.

This whole FBAR business is something I was not aware of until now, and hopefully my post will bring it to the attention of others who don't know about it.

Did you miss this recent topic on the subject?

I did misread that. Thanks to all. Glad I'm still under the deadline. Thanks again!

...and filing the FBAR, satisfies the account holder's reporting obligation."

Believe you misread the quoted text - it says you must file.

As said - this has nothing to do with your tax return - it is separate reporting requirement and anyone with the 10k or more must file.