General Reports

[Robert Long]

So right but you just don't know about people then it being Thailand better be sure if you have family members here! I got mines from an Auction house prior I had checked the cost of course if you buy name here the cost is going to be much harder. I don't know the Bison name but if it works go with it, not like one needs to use it daily. Had it for 5 years use it twice funny how things work as soon as you get one the power never goes out? Still does but not for long periods I spend more time keeping it tuned and from being rusted?

I had the Honda 2000 Inverter, very quiet. Cost me $845.00 in 2005, sold it when I sold my house for $850.00, in 2015. Brand names always hold their price. And yes I only used it 4 time in all those years. Smart to have one around, I was the only one with lights in my valley.

RL.

[LittleBigMan]

NORTH Korea? Ah, my mistake. I'm not sure why anyone would want to even try that there but to each their own.

It won't happen in my lifetime? But if it ever opens up NK, it will be the new frontier of mongering? I remember the 70's. Early 80's the South? Those were the days.

[LittleBigMan]

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.

So right but you just don't know about people then it being Thailand better be sure if you have family members here! I got mines from an Auction house prior I had checked the cost of course if you buy name here the cost is going to be much harder. I don't know the Bison name but if it works go with it, not like one needs to use it daily. Had it for 5 years use it twice funny how things work as soon as you get one the power never goes out? Still does but not for long periods I spend more time keeping it tuned and from being rusted?

[Nother Monger]

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

NORTH Korea? Ah, my mistake. I'm not sure why anyone would want to even try that there but to each their own.

[Bouvis]

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.

Get a generator set up with an automatic change over switch and use a diesel generator.

http://www.generatorsolutions.org

[EihTooms]

...

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.
...

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.