[Immigration On-Line Queue System]

My visa expires on 28 February. On 2 Jan I checked the online system to get an appointment. At that time, the earliest appointment available was for the end of March. There was a recent recommendation to note the date 100 days before your visa expires to make an appointment. As you can renew a 1-year visa up to 30 days before expiration, you should begin looking for a reservation up to 130 days before the expiration date of your visa. The system is developing such a backlog that you need to begin checking out the situation as early as possible.

I just checked the online queue today (5 February), and the earliest appointment available is for 20 April.

Good luck all!! I will be driving up from Lampang and in line early tomorrow morning to do my renewal.

[Chiang Mai Immigration Online Q]

Surprised that no one has mentioned that you can do your 90-day check-in by mail. I've been doing it that way for years. I visit the immigration office in Chiang Mai once a year to renew my visa. You just need to send in your form, a copy of the relevant pages of your passport, and a copy of your last 90-day confirmation. Best to send it via EMS so that it's trackable. You must include a self-addressed, stamped envelope so that they can return your new 90-day form to you.

Waiting in queue sucks, and the queue at the post office is way shorter than the queue at immigration. Granted, i live in Lampang, so it also allows me to avoide the trip up there every three months.

[Building A Pizza Oven In Cm]

Check out this guy's site: http://www.traditionaloven.com/

Apprently, he'll even send you a CD with plans and photos for $6.50AUS.

[Refractory Brick....]

I live here in Lampang and it is most definitely the best place to get it. There are 2 shops in particular that supply the ceramic industry and they both have a good selection of fire bricks and cordierite tiles in varying sizes and thickness. They also sell refractory cement which you will need as well. I use the cordierite tiles in my large gas oven as a floor for baking pizza and bread and they work great!

[What Is The Best Wood For Smoking?]

Be sure to soak the wood chips in water for a few hours before using. Another trick is to place a pan of water on a rack below the meat you are smoking. it will produce steam that will ensure very moist meat.

[What Is The Best Wood For Smoking?]

Ok...skip the mango, but we've been hot smoking with lamyai wood with great results.

[What Is The Best Wood For Smoking?]

Both mango and lamyai work very well...

[Good Old Cast Iron Skillet Pan Where To Find]

I agree with cmsoulbrother. I bought one at local shop here in Lampang and I use it for cooking tortillas. It works great! Just be sure not to let it get wet or it will rust very easily, and oil it after every use. I bought mine for about 350 baht. These are not skillets per se, but they are most definitely cast iron. It's the best substitute I have found. You will not find them at any shop that caters to farang. They will be at shops that supply restaurants and stock food processing machines.