Another example of Cost of Living in Chiang Mai

Sawadee Khrap

Another car repair – went for a short ride the other day to Doi Suthep, very long steep grade to the temple on the mountain and my car started to heat up half the way up – we got there but it was just about to overheat. – Today I took it in for repair:cae repair

New thermostat, new small hose and clamps, removed the radiator and had the cores cleaned and flushed – reinstalled – Whopping bill – $38   complete — try that in US —  Again I can only emphasize how great the cost of living in Thailand is – comfortable retirement is possible – and if your gay then its heaven with all the young men that prefer a older gentlemen as a partner or friend.

P.S.    In response to a comment – It’s SAHAMTER garage and they are located on the west side on the “Rachadamnoen Rd. 1 Soi up from Tha Phae Gate across from Wat Muen Lan. Excellent service – I see they repair other brands but mostly Mira’s – experts in Mira’s.

Ciao

Streamline Retirement VISA approval

Sawadee Khrap

If you are close to needing your Retirement VISA, or other visa needs then pay particular attention to the new association that the Chiang Mai Expats Club has with the Japanese Long-Stay Community.  I just participated in the first  CEC group – On Wednesday, at the Japanese Long-Stay Office (right here in my condo – downstairs) I and several other members had our papers prepared and paid a nominal 200 Baht fee, left our passports so they could be presented to the Immigration department for advance screening and set an appointment for Saturday to have my picture taken, pay fee and paperwork completed at the Immigration Office at Promenade Shopping Center.       This took all of 15 min.   

Saturday, at 1 PM I got to the Immigration Office and they had my papers done and then a photo taken within the first 10 minuets, paid my 1900 Baht  – but had to wait till the supervisor arrived for the final signature approval – 2 PM everything done – home by 2:30.  No hassle, no lines, no worry – quick.

Check it out  – the CEC is planning on continuing this service and “ In the future…. If there appears to be sufficient interest, we’ll look at having the document inspection and submission done during Breakfast Club at River Market and consider if it would be better to go to Promenada on a different Saturday than the General Meeting each month.  You can reach Nancy at  info@ChiangMaiExpatsClub.com  or visit the CEC website. 

In the future I am going to mail in my 90 day reports and take advantage of this service for the 1-Year Retirement Renewal.     Couldn’t be easier – hassle free.

Ciao

Too much exercise is not a good thing

Sawadee Khrap

Got’ta slow down – limit my exercise program !
Ya know, when I was 25 and got a hard-on, I couldn’t bend it  with both hands.  At 50, I could bend it about 20 degrees if I tried real hard and by the time I reached 60, I could bend it 45 degrees, no problem.

I just turned 75 and I can bend it in half with just one hand.
How much stronger am I going to get?

Ciao

Medical Update

Sawadee Khrap

For everyone following my medical adventure  – things have settled down.  Blood pressure seem to be stable 125-145 for the last month and kidneys functioning regularly.   No operation planned.    feel 20 years younger  —   Latest daily meds taken:

  • 1500 mg. Turmeric  – aides in clearing arteries.
  • 3000 mg.  Fish Oil   1000-Blackmore Omega Memo, morning,    2-1000 Regular Fish Oil other meals.  –   blood thinning, stroke control, Omega 3 control.
  • 5 mg. Folic Acid – kidney function.
  • 225 mg Irbesartan – Blood pressure control – relaxes arteries.
  • 7 mg Cialis – relaxes arteries, prostrate help, erection assist.

I have drifted away from the vegetarian regimen I was holding in Pattaya and am starting to feel more sluggish so I will try to go back to largely eating fruits and vegetables – greatly reducing my meat intake.   In addition,  I have increased my exercise program on the Elliptical cross country machine to 15 minuets at level 2 speed at 4-5 MPH – getting much better now – planning to get to 1/2 hr. at level 4-5 at 4-5 mph with intermittent high-intensity speed bursts.

So again I would like to add – if you are planning a medical vacation to Thailand – make sure you check out the Gov’t hospitals to see what their prognoses are before you commit to any treatment at any hospital – – insurance or not.   Do not be taken down the surgical operation path without looking at other alternatives – I am just very glad and blessed that I did not have insurance and had to explore other alternatives  when I was presented with the first findings at Bangkok Hospital in Pattaya.    It turned out that with exercise, good food, proper meds – I should be able to stay healthy without any surgeries.

Ciao

Changing Chiang Mai–Pattaya too for that matter

Sawadee Khrap

Things have really changed here in Chiang Mai since I lived here 5 years ago – today I just left the shopping center and while there (2 hr. for lunch and coffee) I counted 12 Lesbian couples – Tom’s — strolling hand and hand down the aisles and less than 4 gay couples – and only a couple of obviously gay boys walking around –  a Sunday and such little eye candy.

I was also seeing less and less boys on the beach in Pattaya and I an told by a friend who was just in Sunni that it was dead there too – I think it’s due to the Internet and smartphones and the rising economic status of the area.  inflation – who would have guessed it – cost of a date rising.  Also I am finding it much more difficult in getting models  – at least nude models, who will pose just for the pictures and fun of it – now they want to be paid.  I’m on a fixed income and cannot piss it away, so to say, on models just to have images for my blog, that is apparent from lack of new postings on the blog.

Times have changed – don’t see all the gay lads working at the local restaurants and venues – school semester is almost over now and maybe the area will see a definite increase in available talent,  I am hoping so.  I have seen some beautiful boys working at some close-by restaurants  and I am working on seeing if they want to date  or better yet will they pose for me – but that’s just in the works – Gay Romeo, Grinder, Line, and other modern apps have taken the need to actually stroll for dates away – now done on smartphones – no need to leave the house. 

Most of the boys I know here now, are much older and have already settled down with a sugar daddy so to say – most have their condos and future set up.  The newer generation is preferring mates of their own age or slightly older – not the over-the-hill gang like in the past – and although the Chinese tourist have increased 10 fold I haven’t seen the younger ones looking for dates on Gay Romero  – hoping that will change too for the better.

Ahhh, just my observations – Just waiting for the rainy season to end so my neighborhood walks will produce more connections.  Exercise leads to better health and more opportunity .

Ciao

A Gingham Dress — CORRECTED

Sawadee Khrap

Thanks Jerry for this info –

A lady in a faded gingham dress and her husband, dressed in a homespun threadbare suit,  stepped off the train in Boston , and walked timidly without an appointment into the  Harvard University President’s outer office.  The secretary could tell in a moment that such backwoods, country hicks had no business at Harvard & probably didn’t even deserve to be in Cambridge.   We’d like to see the president,” the man said softly.  “He’ll be busy all day,” the secretary snapped.  “We’ll wait,” the lady replied.

For hours the secretary ignored them, hoping that the couple would finally become discouraged and go away.  They didn’t, and the secretary grew frustrated and finally decided to disturb the president, even though it was a chore she always regretted.   “Maybe if you see them for a few minutes, they’ll leave,” she said to him!

He sighed in exasperation and nodded. Someone of his importance obviously didn’t have the time to spend with them, and he detested gingham dresses and homespun suits cluttering up his outer office.  The president, stern faced and with dignity, strutted toward the couple.   The lady told him, “We had a son who attended Harvard for one year.  He loved Harvard. He was happy here. But about a year ago, he was accidentally  killed. My husband and I would like to erect a memorial to him, somewhere on campus.”   The president wasn’t touched. He was shocked.

“Madam,” he said, gruffly, “we can’t put up a statue for every person who attended Harvard and died. If we did, this place would look like a cemetery.”   “Oh, no,” the lady explained quickly. “We don’t want to erect a statue.  We thought we would like to give a building to Harvard.”  The president rolled his eyes. He glanced at the gingham dress and homespun suit,  then exclaimed, “A building!  Do you have any earthly idea how much a building costs?   We have over seven and a half million dollars in the physical buildings here at Harvard.”  For a moment the lady was silent. The president was pleased. Maybe he could get  rid of them now.

The lady turned to her husband and said quietly, “Is that all it costs to start a   university?    Why don’t we just start our own?”  Her husband nodded. The president’s face wilted in confusion and bewilderment.       Mr. and Mrs. Leland Stanford got up and walked away, traveling to Palo Alto,California  where they established the university that bears their name.  Stanford University, a memorial to a son that Harvard no longer cared about.
 
You can easily judge the character of others by how they treat those who they think can do nothing for them.   A TRUE STORY by Malcolm Forbes

Ciao

Post info     Thanks Guy for the actual info —    https://library.stanford.edu/spc/faq#snubbed

Final bill on Mira repair

Sawadee Khrap

Just to give you a idea about costs for repair and services here in Chiang Maicar repair - Mira – this is my bill for repairing the Mira – a new front axel, new rear brake drum, special coolant hose from pump to radiator, new dipstick (one of the highest cost),  misc. fittings and clamps and service charge:    complete    4120 Baht  @  35.7 baht/dollar =  $115.50    Took a full day to repair and they had to completely remove the front fender assembly to do the water hose work – in at 8 AM  picked up at 4:30 PM —–   Can you imagine the cost in the States to do the same thing – I was just charged $22 for labor  —–    I can’t guess what it would cost anymore, but I know I couldn’t handle it.   Retirement living here is GOOD and affordable.

Ciao

Car problems again

Sawadee Khrap

Had a water pump start leaking – was on my way to Lampang to get a set of dishes from the local Ceramic Factory, actually there are 3 in Lampang.  But only got to Lamphun before I started to notice the temperature climbing – turned around and just made it back to the condo.  Alas another day to go – will have to make due with the dishes I already have.  Getting ready now to go pick up the car and see how much it’s going to cost – I also had them check out the brakes  while it was there – Next post will tell the full story.

Ciao