jacko

I would like to think you are correct, but am uncertain, when it comes time to repay my annual premium, I would know more by the questions I am asked and what I am required to sign. One thing is certain though, I would not be told that these conditions are an issue at the time of paying my premium, more likely at the time of making a claim... That said, I was expecting to be looking elsewhere for more comprehensive cover next year... hence...

I agree with Eneukman. I have insurance via Pattaya Expats Club and although they claim 1,000,000 baht of cover, it would be a peculiar mix of circumstances that would generate such a payout. Having read the policy in detail I still feel I am exposed to an uncomforatable level of risk. Also, as I have just been treated for high blood pressure, it is likely future policies will provide less cover due to 'pre-existing conditions' weasel out clauses. Pattaya Expats Club stated they are looking into a group plan with better cover. Having a policy that leaves me exposed to potentially 6000 baht/day room charges hardly seems effective.

The area on the other side of Sukhumvit. A phrase coined by BM kolobos in an effort to make it sound enticing, and get people in his bar!

I have stayed in Nakhon Ratchasima quite a few times. I don't rate it as a fun place for farangs. If you are a younger person you might do well with the university girls at the discos... that noisy effort at the Rachapruk Hotel might be a good starting point. It is also a good reason not to stay at the hotel. At the back of said hotel there is a soapy and a couple of little Karaoke places. Girls don't speak much English there. I heard a GO-GO bar had opened there a while back, and there was some sort of girlie club opposite 'The Pizza Shop'. My GF is from there and would dearly love to move back, I would rather not. After going to the Zoo and Pimai I was bored daft.

I would expect he had already laid a substantial deposit down, and with a Thai man the chances of a refund are zero. I think our little Bill Gates needs to adopt a lower profile, farangs 'working' draws attention...got a work permit, got a sponsor? I still admire his enthusiasm,

Hmm, I think I will go along with Gary's advice on this one. Yours is a bit final.

Well the VIPs to Chiangmai and Mai Sai do... I don't mind as they probably avoid a bit of traffic too. My TGF always catches a daytime one to Korat though (aircon 1 class)... 7.45am departure and arriving about 2pm. My trip next month to Phitsanalouk will arrive at about midnight.

This guy just bounces back!

Not such an unusual thing Tom. I could throw a stone from my place at 3 such houses. I think good neighbours is the key.

I'd just like to add that the Nakhonchai Air website listed above should be taken with a pinch of salt. I used the timetable, but when I went to the bus station to book the tickets, neither the times of departure, nor the bus frequency were correct. The question as to why the website was giving out incorrect information resulted in the well known, oriental, blank faced, open mouthed, shrug!

Jack, thanks for a good laugh early in the morning. (I too get onto the internet at silly times to get a useable speed).

It depends if you can 'maintain' a UK address. Most UK bank accounts are not open to 'non-residents'. But if you do not tell them, you can have the statements mailed to a sister, brother or parents home, they are only useless paper. Do everything online. Another alternative might be to go offshore. Hold an 'International Access Account', which will not pay much interest but you can easily transfer funds from to Thailand. Then keep the bulk of your money in fixed term deposits or National Savings Income Bonds. (Only about 5% or 5.5% paid gross respectively). Interest proceeds are automatically put into your International Access Account. After you qualify as a UK non-resident, that would be tax-free. I use Standard Chartered in Jersey, the Isle of Man is also popular.

Sometimes written as Roi-Et, central Issan? Just south of Kalasin, or about 150 KM south-east of Khon Kaen. Yes I expect it could be 'rural' there Far from the city?

Agreed, I joke with the workmen when they complete a repair.....'see you tomorrow'.... I took a look down the 'new road' last night, it is no longer flat and ready for surfacing. No sign of approaching tarmac as you look North down its length. I have to wonder how easy it will be to get from the 'dark side' to West Pattaya with 2 large roads and a railway line to cross.

I use a bolt on package with AIS... 750 baht/ month for 100 hours use. They claim 460kbps but I am sure that is the maximum, dreamers speed, mine varies from slow to stopped. You have to do your internet messing about at 5am. It slows down at 7.30 am.... crawls by 4pm and near stops after 6pm. What I save on a cheap service I might lose one day when the laptop flies through the window. (Speedtest 99/24 at the 'good' time. pre-7am)

Darn, I'll stick with my my Edge/GPRS then. It's slow and crap, but it is cheap.

Thanks, glad I read UR post before clicking...

I have been in my house for nearly 15 months now, and up to recently I had always been pleased that utilities seemed reliable. Banglamung Cable was useless so I switched to Sophon. That goes off for short spells fairly often, but is more reliable than its predecessor. My water supply had low pressure, but it filled the tank and my pump boosts it for the house. Electricity seemed to survive some spectacular storms! The last month or 2 has been not so good. Electricity off a couple of times.... for long periods... not good for the fridge contents. But the water... I think they are trying to improve the pressure and that is when the problems started. We have had 12 pipe bursts in the last month near the house, and I would say the water has been turned off for some time every day for the last 25. If it is not off due to a burst line in my street, there is something going on elsewhere requiring the isolation. They dig now in front of my house, slow arduous work with a pick and shovel. The other night we lent them a light and extension cord, and gave them a few bottles of beer as we found them more entertaining than Sophon at 2am! I haven't been inconvenienced much, I don't use that much water. The storage tank has saved me, although I topped it with rain water a couple of times to get the pump to switch on. Flush the bog every other pee! We get the mains water on for a few hours each day. Can't complain about the workmen either, they are along pretty quick when I call to inform about the river flowing down the street. They seem to lack equipment, and putting small repair lengths into what is an old crumbling network seems to be ineffective. Their methodology of re-filling the hole before putting the water back on also confuses me. The street is beginning to look like a Beirut suburb near the Israel border! Tonight my Sophon went off as I was about to watch the summary of condo jumpers, of course the water is still off. Cable is back on later, water, well who cares? You have to wonder if they will ever get to grips with the infrastructure requirements of this rapidly expanding city.

Worrying about your neighbours doesn't seem to be a priority over here Pap!

No, there is Banglamung Cable.... it's crap and unreliable. I see Sophon have just started advertising a new cable service that will include telephone and internet. Perhaps a matter of 'watch this space'.

I think they make the rules to make up the money. Having only 24 hours to report an address change is OTT and obviously being used as an earner. How about when I go stay up north for a few weeks, am I to report this address change? I believe they also try and fine you on this when you renew your driving licence and incorporate an address change.

A small 'juice to go bar'. Sell passion fruit juice, I love that stuff. All those guys who decided to walk all the way down second rd in the heat to walk off the hangover have a real thirst by then. In the cooler evenings sell alka-seltzer to go for those with heartburn from Pizza Hut or KFC, or too many beers in the beer bars.

Sell baseball caps with a penis emblem on them.

You could fly her down to Malaysia and see if they will issue her a tourist visa there. That is how the 'farangs' are getting around the 90 day limitation. Same visa run outfits are offering the trips.