jacko

May I answer...thank you. Because the roads are not lit and full of ruddy great pot-holes. There are drunk people driving around in the night. I am currently rethinking my 2-bike lifestyle after being hit last night by some kid whizzing along with little regard for his or other's safety. Soi Nerm Plub Wan seems particularly bad when they all get out of the mosques...sunset. I feel you are deliberately 'buzzed' as a falang....you have to keep your elbows tucked in!

Yes I am in the same boat. The voluntary NI contributions only really cover your pension.... it is possible that will be taken off us, for non residents, before reaching 65 too! You never know..... They now take your health care off you a lot quicker than you qualify for non-resident status for tax purposes!! As an aside, offshore banks will now be obliged to inform the UK government of those holding accounts with EU addresses. Beware those not paying tax on interest. ( I realise a non-resident does not have to, but if like me, you retain a UK mail address, expect future aggravation)

I don't see much need or benefit. I just telex money over to my Pattaya branch when needed. It's there the next day. Easy easy...I think I dealt through them when I submitted a UK cheque to my Pattaya branch... (just to give it a try) I got my money deposited in Thailand but it took 25 days and it didn't seem to give me any less costs, maybe more.

Gulf Air has been squeezed out by the new and rich groups.....Emirates, Qatar and Ethiad. Gulf was never a good airline whereas these 3 are far superior. Progress....Gulf alway was a bit of an 'all stops in the Gulf'' carrier... I did a lot of miles with them.... mostly dropping off in places I didn't want to go to.

The weather and the low costs are obvious... but little things... My girl hanging up the washing right now as I lie on my ass playing on the computer. Going fishing.... Getting my gas cylinder relaced at 7pm on a Sunday night, a phone call, and it is delivered and fitted in minutes. Calling Sophon cable and they fix the problem in 20 minutes. Calling the place where they issue driving licenses and getting to talk to a human being. Parking my motorcycle where I need to... Hardly ever having to buy clothes, and when I do, they are cheap. Hardly ever having to wear much clothing.... Not understanding politicians when they talk on TV...... Arriving at the airport, and being in the lounge within an hour...... Having the tyres checked/fixed for 3 baht Did I mention the girls, was I told not to??

I have lived here a couple of years now and manage quite well without a car or pickup. I do have a couple of motorbikes for getting about. I rent a car when I travel around Thailand. Someone mentioned how convenient it was for going out for a drink... well I stopped drinking and driving here, too dangerous for me and others. At the moment I live pretty close to Pattaya... if I was out of town more a car/pickup would become obligatory. As it stands now, well it would just take too long to get any place... then where the hell can I park.

Hmmm, that would suggest they are issuing Multiple Non Imm O visas. I haven't heard this elsewhere and am a little surprised. (Ooops, just took a look at Thai Visa forum and you are correct, someone over there hinted prices for the visas are going up early July, and Penang might be more strict in the future) For sure Penang is where the visa run people go to get the tourist visas....and even then, only single entry.

I hate to sound like Big Chief but I think you mean 2 rai.. not 2 wah of land Two talang (sq) wah is about 8sqm. Where exactly outside Korat (Nakhon Ratchasima)? My GF comes from a village about that distance from the city and wants to build on her land. I think it is just beyond Chok Chai..... good luck with it. Would appreciate an update!

I thought the famous Joe was mistaken...yes maybe..the question posed clearly states '30 day visa on arrival!.. But the second paragraph is 'on the money'

Not at all. A multiple tourist visa or a non Imm 'O' would also require trips every 60 or 90 days. I believe the combination of 3 x30 day and a tourist visa from Malaysia is being used by some visa run specialists.

Quite a trip to Ranong over the hills, but interesting. Perhaps from Cha-Am you could get onto the train to the Southern border with Malaysia... if it doesn't get blown off the tracks.

Would be better under Expat Issues forum. Well discussed there. Try a search on the subject. I recall 1 BM had a good policy, I think it was 'Gary'. I have just taken out one in Pattaya on the 'Expats Club' group plan through AA Insurance brokers.

This is great news, I have avoided many places for ages now as I despise the dual pricing policy and adopt a 'cut off my own nose' approach. Got my license this year, a whole new world opens up to me!

Fair dodge... I would have said it was a rhetorical question. Pretty good one too.

Don't really think the TV is all that good... but who needs it?

Torrenova seems to have matched my lifestyle and ideas. If you are a big butterfly, you don't need a live-in. Mine doesn't work, but I give her a monthly stipend so that she has the financial independence. She currently goes to school, so we both get the 'time apart'... which I think I need more than her. She cooks dinner often and cleans up the house quite well. She wanted to work but could only find menial, long hours for quite low pay. So, as I wanted her to spend some time with me and do the housework, we came to the school and stipend settlement.

Not sure about this. I think they pursue that aim from all angles. Getting a first time tourist to 'lub them mak mak' is likely thought to be easier than getting a cynical resident to take them seriously.

You are joking right?

ah, but as you get older you can manage the extra £1000, but can't mange the extra 60 longtimes. Can't believe one guy paid over £3000 to go with Qantas..... ....... Get discounted biz class seats.....£1400-£1600. Join the frequent flier progams and get the odd free flight. The lounges in the airport are also a nice perk......For sure, if you can't afford it, the extra £1000 will get you more fun in Thailand.

This was mentioned at an 'Expats Club' meeting some months ago. I woke up and heard part of the answer. There was a TIT overtone saying that things vary, but someone had been asked to produce a 'confirming' letter from the embassy that the new passport had been issued to replace the old one. Previously the receipt had sufficed. The entry stamp summarily transferred.

This treatment is for cataracts.....glaucoma cannot be treated this way.

I don't have any middle names.... so that keeps things simple for me. Although if I did I think I would be jumping up for any permutation and combination of them. Some forms (particularly in Arabic countries) expect you to have at least 3 names. I take great satisfaction repeating my last name as 'second name' and 'family name'....

http://www.pattayatalk.com/forums/index.ph...st&p=462627

Might want to read a post on the 'Member's Board'. Wongamat beach is littered and a haven for ladyboys prostituting themselves. Obviously both of these can be 'cleaned up'. I think a condo would be nice and convenient, but the purchase prices now are insane. Pricing them in Sqm.... be Euros next. There is also an annual service charge and a scalping on the electric rate too.

Just wondering if there are any technical problems at yr end, or whether my security settings are an issue. Completely unable to reply to posts, using the 'Quote' and 'Add Reply' direction for several days now. Just hangs there after I hit 'Add Reply'.Works OK for 'Fast Reply' Can't send PMs either....