General Reports

[EihTooms]

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I think a generator is good for outages more than 10 minutes, of course you don't know how long it is going to be. I would also suggest lamps with rechargeable batteries over candles. Generators do make some noise, but not as bad as dogs barking, roosters crowing, ha ha.
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On the subject of candles, those fake but quite realisitic looking battery operated candles you see for sale in shops and on some vendor tables around town (300-500 baht for medium size ones) are great for creating a romantic candlelight atmosphere in a room without the smell, melting wax and open flame heat generated by real candles. Two D Cell batteries seem to last longer than the several hours claimed on the product.

This is not exactly addressing the power blackout minus a generator issue since one of the last things you'd want to do during a power blackout in Thailand with no aircon and no functioning fan is create a romantic atmosphere. LOL.

But I keep a couple of them on hand to sometimes add to the atmosphere when all the electric appliances are functioning. And, in fact, they do come in handy to light up a bathroom in order to take a cool shower or tend to other things during power blackouts without draining your smartphone battery firing up a flashlight app for the purpose. Again, absent a generator.

Those fake candles are so damned realistic and so much less hassle than real candles I wonder why anyone but the truly poor buy real candles anymore. Other than birthday cake candles, that is.

Hey, you can create a candlelight ambience in your room without the aircon and fan blowing out a real flame because there is no real flame, only an amazing simulation of one. LOL.

[Banana Boi]

If you're not Korean, the options are going to be limited. In terms of least to most expensive: either you go to one of the few remaining RLDs, a massage parlor, or go to a room salon / booking club (and spend lots of money. Think over $300 USD before any P4 P).

There might be some Officetels that will allow foreigners, but prices range from $150 USD - $1000 k USD for the VIP ones, and that doesn't include any price gouging they may try. In other words, Thailand is much, much cheaper.

OP was asking about North Korea. Pretty sure there is no hobbying there for a Farang.

[Nother Monger]

Be interested to know about the opportunities for mongering in and Korea.

If you're not Korean, the options are going to be limited. In terms of least to most expensive: either you go to one of the few remaining RLDs, a massage parlor, or go to a room salon / booking club (and spend lots of money. Think over $300 USD before any P4 P).

There might be some Officetels that will allow foreigners, but prices range from $150 USD - $1000 k USD for the VIP ones, and that doesn't include any price gouging they may try. In other words, Thailand is much, much cheaper.

[Syzygies]

I highly recommend everyone to buy this rechargeable LED flashlight that is bright enough to light up an entire room. Just plug in to the wall to recharge. They have similar ones that run on batteries. 69 baht at Mr. DIY. One of the very few non necessity goods have purchased in Thailand.

Thanks, will get one or three.

We have headlamps (strap to one's head) for doing stuff outdoors at night, but these mentioned above will be better for more general lighting in power outage. Thais tend to use candles or even gas or kerosene lanterns.

Many years ago, probably in the 1990's, I went to Koh Chang which was undeveloped, and had no roads, only motor cycle tracks. Also no power supply except for generators maybe, so kerosene lanterns were commonly used. I took 3 girls with me (one was a Tom Boy type of friend of the others so had no interest to do her even she worked as a hooker, not really slim). I suppose no one had smart phones in those days, so girls smoked pot, rather than playing smart phone games all the time. Major past times were eating, smoking Ganja (from Cambodia), sleeping and sex. Not much else. They were too lazy to go on extended walk to the waterfall. These days, taking away 3 girls for a multi day holiday would cost you an arm and a leg. Back in those days very cheap, bungalow accommodation was cheap too, and even a big bag of Ganja from Cambodia was maybe 100 Baht, maybe a little more. There were no police on the Island at all.

[Syzygies]

You can get at HomePro runs around 18,000 baht if you buying foreign brand like Honda and up depending on what you need power need do not use indoor need ventilation.

Mine is a bit cheaper for fairly lower total power requirements, not Honda brand. Hard to know if "Bison" name is reliable or not.

Yes definitely for outdoors, like would not use a petrol engine indoors for any other things.

[Banana Boi]

I would also suggest lamps with rechargeable batteries over candles.

I highly recommend everyone to buy this rechargeable LED flashlight that is bright enough to light up an entire room. Just plug in to the wall to recharge. They have similar ones that run on batteries. 69 baht at Mr. DIY. One of the very few non necessity goods have purchased in Thailand.

[LittleBigMan]

You can get at HomePro runs around 18,000 baht if you buying foreign brand like Honda and up depending on what you need power need do not use indoor need ventilation.

[Syzygies]

Brilliant. Why didn't I think of buying a generator? We get power outages all the time and my place gets stinking hot pretty fast with no AC or fan. Where would I get one here? HomePro? Index? Big C?

Agree. Dual SIM phones are a must for all of us.

I got it from Global House (very large hardware store in the province), and runs on Benzene petrol (maybe you call that gas in the USA). Mid sized for home use. Home Pro should have them I guess. Big C not likely. I have not got an electrician to setup connection to main wiring. To start with we just have long plug in cables with power boards on the ends. So can plug in critical things like fans, lamps, Water pump, Refrigerator, etc. Maybe the aircon too if total power consumption does not exceed its capacity.

I think a generator is good for outages more than 10 minutes, of course you don't know how long it is going to be. I would also suggest lamps with rechargeable batteries over candles. Generators do make some noise, but not as bad as dogs barking, roosters crowing, ha ha.

If very annoyed by brief power outages, then UPS boxes with batteries maybe the way to go, however I have not gone that far yet.

I had an 8 hour power outage once through the stormy night. Don't have to do that again. Most recent one was only 30 minutes but still that is a little too long when very hot, and we need the water pump to operate to flush the toilet and take a shower.

Out in the country, sometimes they setup a big stage somewhere and do "Mor Ram" folk singing and dancing shows, a bit like a circus coming to town but no animals. Music is blasting, and they usually power those shows by generators, because may not have access to reliable local power.

[Banana Boi]

Have a generator in case of extended power outage now. One cannot tolerate multiple hours with power down in Thailand. Its too hot. Voltage surge protection and stabilization comes next and finally a UPS maybe, however perhaps very short power outages will not be a big burden. Power outages are frequent in Bangkok also (at least in areas where I had been living), so I guess throughout Thailand.

Well worth having dual SIM phones here in Thailand and overseas for me. One phone or SIM could be the "monger phone". My mongering winds down but still have too many female contacts / Giks.

Brilliant. Why didn't I think of buying a generator? We get power outages all the time and my place gets stinking hot pretty fast with no AC or fan. Where would I get one here? HomePro? Index? Big C?

Agree. Dual SIM phones are a must for all of us.

[Syzygies]

Thanks Syzy for the tip. I am happy with the switch and will get the 6 month 1800 baht plan next time. I now have cash for an extra lady drink or two each month!

I got the tip from a ladyboy who is a close relative of my Mrs. "She" does large amounts of downloading with torrents. Have been using a CAT landline for some time. However that is unreliable not due to CAT's fault, but in rural Thailand trees are not trimmed to keep them away from power lines and phone lines, internet lines as well. So any storm comes, trees are likely to fall on power lines and internet lines can be taken out too. Cables in the roof had to shielded in plastic pipe to stop rats from chewing the cable. Thailand has a lot of vermin, where very cold countries probably have a lot less to deal with.

Here CAT phone 4 G signal is a little weak but still works that I can watch a movie. Never was possible on my AIS SIM before. I have to admit though I was too stingy to take the very top AIS plans with unlimited high speed, as more costly per month.

Now I have taken 6 months in one go with CAT for just under 2000 Baht, I don't even care if I am not in Thailand for some of those months. I could have taken monthly, but the set and forget convenience is appealing.

I used a CAT SIM at 4 Mbps in Bangkok a couple of weeks back, and was definitely better than I have got for similar money plans with AIS, and way better than the hotel internet supplied.

Have a generator in case of extended power outage now. One cannot tolerate multiple hours with power down in Thailand. Its too hot. Voltage surge protection and stabilization comes next and finally a UPS maybe, however perhaps very short power outages will not be a big burden. Power outages are frequent in Bangkok also (at least in areas where I had been living), so I guess throughout Thailand.

Well worth having dual SIM phones here in Thailand and overseas for me. One phone or SIM could be the "monger phone". My mongering winds down but still have too many female contacts / Giks.

[Banana Boi]

CAT is a government Telecom company. It is not well known but they have great Package where you can pay for 1 month or 6 months or a year in one go for a mobile phone SIM card "my" CAT "my 4G". CAT runs the towers so has best reception throughout Thailand.

Various speeds available including 4, 6 , and 8 Mbps.

My girlfriend's brother downloads several full movies a day to his phone. No drop in speed. Great for video watching, e. G. Football replays, etc. Porn no problem. I know he does a lot of that. LOL. Most well known companies detect big downloads and throttle you.

I will get my own CAT card, when this one runs out of the 6 months. I will probably do the great deal to pay once per year. I m using phone hotspot to give Internet to my laptop and doing my work. It is performing better than the home fixed line in remote Thailand.

Many calls per month included I think. More than I could ever use. Mostly we are using Line, Whatsapp etc. , few traditional calls.

Unfortunately web site English is not that extensive, but enquire at CAT office, Mon-Fri 8. 30 to 4 PM. I have no business connection. 2nd floor Times Square

http://www.mybycat.com/en/PrePay.php...9-1,-4,-6-Mbps

I used to get sick of bad internet through AIS, BB, True, etc, whether in hotels, Apartments, in Bangkok, or in the Country.

So far my borrowed CAT SIM is qiving me much better than what I used to. No speed drops!

6 months at 6Mbps no speed reductions is 1800 Baht. 4Mbps is cheaper. Pay for the year and more discount.

I've been on My by Cat for about a week now. I assume it works better in Bangkok which I will find out when I go to Bangkok in a couple of days. Visited the Pattaya office located on South Pattaya Road just east of Third Road, near Tukcom. You can't miss it. The value is great. 6 Mbps for 3 months for 1000 baht plus 70 baht for the new SIM card. Is it faster and more reliable than DTAC and AIS? Way better than DTAC which has been crap all year and marginally better than AIS, but way cheaper for sure and no worries at all about data usage since it is unlimited.

Thanks Syzy for the tip. I am happy with the switch and will get the 6 month 1800 baht plan next time. I now have cash for an extra lady drink or two each month!

[LittleBigMan]

A very good explanation on the TM-30.

https://www.thethailandlife.com/tm30...e4e-1204666177

RL.

Thanks for providing the link to good information. I think the majority of the people living here know one immigration is different from the next! As noted this has been in effect since 2005 but it wasn't until the bombing in Bangkok that they started to get serious. You would think with the technology today video conference that the government can easily click and set up a conference to go over all the rules so it can be consistency. If you aren't sure it is best to go down and ask but don't open a can of worms?

It really is the sole responsibility of the owner to file these TM30's if they don't reason might they don't have a business license?

Here in Jomtien, on Visa forums, it is suggested if you haven't been asked to provide the TM-30 don't I've been doing extension for 12 plus years never been asked about it nor do I plan to bring it up. The fine is the same whether it is one time or ten. A close friend recently went down to extend his trip he likes to talk talk majority of the stuff isn't relevant he ended up in Jomtien paying 1600-1800 then he also had to pay for his Thai lady since he is staying at her place.

In a recent interview with the Jomtien immigration chief, he stated based on his interpretation an expat on a retirement extension only has to do a TM30 once. They can travel anywhere they want inside Thailand or out they only have to fill out a new TM-30 when they move to a new place which means if you are renting a place A and decide to change and go to be, you need to go down and fill out a new TM-30 otherwise you don't.

It was indicated the 90 day report is enough to keep track of you?

[EihTooms]

All sounds ridiculous and amusing. I used to rent a room in Bangkok all year round. I would come and go over seas. I am guessing the manager did not report every time I came and left to the authorities (I could be wrong). Now I might not know where I will be first night or two, and my rural address is a bit long and complex and won't be there immediately.

I expect to go for a yearly VISA with reporting some time soon. I wonder if I can get away with just reporting my one rural address.

The article says the fine for not reporting is 1,600 baht for the landlord who is supposed to file it. I was fined 800 baht this time. Don't know why the difference. And it was the first I'd ever heard of the form or the requirement to file it. They gave me a receipt. I suppose I could show my landlord the receipt and ask for the money one way or another since he is the one liable for the fine.

But he is very conscientious about these things, has asked me to give him any new Arrival/Departure card I get along the way. So I am guessing he is aware if this requirement, did file the report and it would be his word against Thai Immigration, a conflict I am willing to just pay an additional 800-1.600 baht once a year to avoid, frankly.

I am getting a pretty good deal with this apartment, like the easy going nature of the landlord and am not inclined to fuck with all of that just to avoid paying a potentially once a year fine of 800-1,600 baht that he is supposed to pay instead of me. I will certainly tell him the next time I return to my apartment after spending so much as 1 night in a hotel anywhere in the world including two blocks down Sukhumvit Road in Bangkok and remind him he needs to report it within 24 hours or be fined 1,600 baht. LOL. Lovely.

But if I get hit with another 800-1,600 baht fine the very long day I go to Immigration to renew my retirement visa, I will again pay it and count it as an effective increase from the usual 1,900 baht charge to renew. Or I will accept it as a roughly 64-133 baht per month increase in my rent. Lolol.

[MongerForSex]

Be interested to know about the opportunities for mongering in and Korea.

I'm sure Trump personally wouldn't give a shit. How was the North Korean pussy?

I did not fuck in North Korea but it's a good country to visit. People are very nice. Hotels are very good.

[Banana Boi]

Be interested to know about the opportunities for mongering in and Korea.

Suicide mission to hobby in North Korea. Why not just go to Seoul or Busan, SK?