jacko

Nakhonchai Air buses leave from their own station to go to Ubon via Korat. You can go to Korat and from there many buses go to Khon Kaen. VIP busses leave Pattaya at about 5am, 08.15, 10.00am and 10.30am, I say 'about' because I have a timetable from Rayong where they originate and guess 2 hours from there to funtown. (Edit in...sorry, I appear to have fucked up the times, my old timetable is in Thai and I am stupid....well done Tahoe Bill....good link.....I do know a class 1 bus leaves at 07.45 as I put my TGF on it yesterday.....YIPEEE....off to Lolitas now )You would need to go to the bus station to reserve, (computerized), and buy the ticket (again I guess around 450 baht+). If you come from Pattaya Klang and turn right onto Sukhumvit (towards Rayong/Sattahip), the bus station is on your left after 50m, near the 7-11. If you don't want to reserve, get the bus from Pattaya North Rd bus-station, (NOT VIP..plebs only ) to Moechit, Bangkok. From there buses to KK are pretty frequent, probably hourly, although not sure what portion are VIP class.

Not true, you can get a Non-Imm O-A from some 'home' countries (USA,OZ,UK and others). This is a retirement visa, it is easier to get in Thailand as no police report is required. Perhaps worth investigating as proving the income can be easier at home along with some other aspects. Yes, I would recommend this, a multiple is required. The requirements for it vary country to country, embassy to consulate. The 90-day visa runs are nothing to be put off by, a day trip to the Cambodian border for 2000 baht. Actually you can get nearly 15 months out of this visa. Quite correct. Most people get a Non-Imm O in their home country, then convert it to a retirement visa in Thailand. Good luck OP, although you may not be able to 'live off' the 800,000 baht as you say. I heard that immigration may want to check up on it now and again, to make sure you didn't just 'borrow it'. Probably easier to maintain a balance of about 800k, or prove your income. Check out this website.. http://www.pattayaexpatsclub.com/visainformation.htm

I tend to agree. Although some people are driven by price only. I like a bargain myself, but tend to avoid Aeroflot, Biman, Garuda etc....oh and this one too

Not any more there isn't. I just saw on the BBC that the UK has suspended Mahan Air citing safety and operational concerns. If you have paid for a ticket on them you need to start getting a refund and alternative. Mahan Air Suspended

If you paid for her insurance, perhaps you should have got the 10,000 baht cheque...... well maybe a wife would not quite see it that way...

So you came out even, they covered everything....... but methinks a zero is missing someplace!

Might try my TGF's mother's house. Looks like a scruffy antique shop...

Hard to be sure without seeing the place. Certainly sounds 'about' right. For certain you could get more bang for your buck on the other side of Sukhumvit. I have a bit of a garden, parking, but only 2br/1bath, separate house for 15k, fully furnished....fully!. But spacewise it is all I need....me and her can't occupy 3 bathrooms at once. I would like to know more about my neighbours too before moving into a townhouse. You pay a premium for being closer to town. I'd be tempted to take a look around at midnight too, there might be a Karaoke nearby or other nightime pests.

Lot of sense there Gary... the last thing I want is her relatives with us..apart from the odd 1 or 2 days a year It's hard enough keeping the TGF away from the Thai style of living. I have already alienated a couple of her friends who came over for a few hours and stopped for dinner. They can't seem to control their kids and certainly don't take well to my suggested improvements!

I second that... Doesn't sound like the vehicle is worth the red tape and open palms.

Can you get a drink on the Mahan flights... or in Tehran airport?

He might want some but he doesn't get any of mine! Actually the rules differ UK and USA. Once non-resident status is achieved and declared you can get your interest tax free. I have been out of the UK ages, but am unsure how long it might now take to achieve this status, as the rules have changed.

Hmm, let us know how this works out, I had heard (second hand) that you still had to report. Perhaps a variation on implementation as TIT!

I got a flat fixed on the bike in 10 minutes ..cost 150 baht. Across the street to the dentist ...appointment only 2 hours later (my fault, went at lunchtime)... no problem, go get a massage with happy ending to take my mind off the toothache.

Yeah, wait until you are 65 and take a bigger cut! When you work, you are selling your time..... as you get older it should be worth more to you than to some employer.

That is where I stayed once and had someone pilfer something out what they pass off as a security box. (Looked like a school locker with a padlock on it)

Listen pal, being miserable is no way to live. Your numbers and age uncannily match me nearly 3 years ago... I live in Thailand. Whilst 6% is optimistic at the moment, certainly for a cash deposit, I see 217,000 baht/ month easy for you. I still have my original capital after nearly 3 years. Whilst living off the interest is probably more secure, do you realise you could live here for nearly 20 years without any? At 65 a pension should kick in too. If you have a good enough head on your shoulders, you would be fine.

(You mean the city or the region?) I have stayed in the city twice, and despite the fact that it is a big city, I didn't find much to do. If you have transport, I found the areas near the Mee Khong more interesting... Khong Chiam, the 2 colored river and Pha Taem national park.

Yes, like people who fly half way around the world to pay for sex!

That is interesting as all my first hand experience of Cambodia is a few years old now. But how about transport? Is there a road between Koh Kong and Sihanookville yet? Or do the aircon busses from Sihanookville to PP actually turn the AC on now?

This Nationwide account gets a lot of positive publicity here..... now I am cynical and banks are in the game to make money. So let me ask, do Nationwide hide fees in the exchange rate? Do you get the onshore rate?

Interesting, I got my Non-Imm O from the Hull Consulate, by post, there is a possibility they look less closely, particularly if you are over 50. I lived here for 2 years on triple entry tourist visas... taking trips back to the UK when they ran out. Plenty of options for the visa run, 2000-2400 baht for the day-trip to the Cambodian border. A few days in Cambodia or Laos by land. Or a flight to Phnom Pehn on Air Asia.....weekend in Singapore, Penang or the Philippines as you say.

Where did you apply? Normally this is not a requirement. Yes you can... but now you may need the outward flight ticket..... True... Just fine here, they are a rough lot in the members area

When I last went to see my doc he said 'I haven't seen you for a long time'.....'I know, I haven't been well' I told him'..... Sorry....I'll log off now then.......

Thanks for all that Alan, it relaxes my mind somewhat! It is so long ago since I left the UK... over 25 years, that I can't remember whether I claimed non-residence status or not prior. Most letters from them get thrown in the trash.. ... I did answer one once, basically telling them, as I lived overseas, to fuck off and mind their own business and stop wasting taxpayers money chasing me..... . (I hate the ?£^NTS). I worry about giving a Thai address now, mainly as I feel mail might be lost. You have to keep your wits about you, an ever expanding government expenditure makes them look hard for other resources.