kenandlat

I'm considering buying a new 4 door sedan and wondered if any member here is well versed in all the available brands and tax situation for those built/assembled here within Thailand. As I understand it, those models that are built/assembled locally within Thailand have little or no taxes involved in the sale while those imported carry quite large tax burdens along with a higher "sticker price". Could someone tell me the 3 largest 4 door sedan models made here "in-country" and what the total drive out price might me for a "loaded" model? Ken

Howdy all members, Wife and I will be playing tour guide for my sister + 3 other relatives who will be visiting from the U.S. Oct 31-Nov 14. We need to rent an air-conditioned 8-11 passenger minibus for a one way trip from Pattaya to Hua Hin on 7 Nov. Any member who has access to agents/companies/friends who might be able to provide such a bus/driver on 7 Nov, please e-mail me at kenandlat@gmail.com Ken/Rattana Bower Chiayaphum Thailand 06-090-8686 kenandlat@gmail.com

Howdy, I just booked the Royal Twin Plaza Hotel which sits accross the street and back a block on Pattaya 2nd Rd from the Royal Garden Mall for my wife and myself. A friend and I walked through the building last Oct when we were both in PB and were very impressed with the lobby, restaurant size, and swimming pool but I've never stayed there. Any member here actually stayed there? What was your impression? Ken

IF I were looking into staying within "striking distance" of Pattaya, I'd only consider Ban Chang, Sattahip, Rayong, and Chantiburi as possible locations for living although I DID love Sriracha back in the 70's. With the new hospitals completed near U-Tapao, and in Rayong and the one in Chantiburi being almost fully equipped/staffed, anywhere along the Eastern shore would be adequate NOW whereas probably not just a couple of years ago for full time living. I hear that there will also be a new hospital completed in Trat by next year's end. I always liked the Trat/Klong Yai area. Ken Bower Chiayaphum

Rex, They have ADSL available here, as well as Satellite ISP coverage IF you are willing to pay for it. As time is what I have the most of and $$$ is what I have the least of, I chose to just deal with only having dial-up but then I rarely use the computer now for anything more than reading and answering e-mails so I find dial-up totally sufficient for my needs. I had 500 channels available in San Antonio Texas B4 I moved here but seldom found any more channels of interest than I do here with UBC Platinum ( at a greatly reduced price from what I had btw). I have a homephone line and a cell phone so I can call worldwide with reception far better than I ever dreamed when I started seriously considering living way out here in the deep boondocks. And the best part of all is that IF I wake up in the morning and feel a need for socializing with other farangs, I can be in Bangkok in 5-6 hours or Pattaya in 7-8 hours. (But rarely get that urge anymore). I can also easily go to Khon Kaen or Korat in about an hour and a half or to Udon Thani in 3 hours. With Tesco-Lotus already here and rumors of Big C coming (which I have yet to verify), and Foodland and many hi speed internet locations in downtown Chiayaphum, just 12km away, any needs not handled at home can be met. Today, I bought a new refrig and new stove/oven at a local store with prices LESS than Tesco-Lotus btw. My bedroom and bathroom are fully air-conditioned and as of today the giant living room is just cooled by fans. That IS sufficient now but in late March to the end of June (the hot, dry season), I may have to change the living room windows and put in air-conditioning. We have a 20-30 ft. by 12-14 ft. cemented front porch which is quite nice for "lounging" during the day or just reading a book or listening to the stereo and nearing age 70, that seems to be enough for me. I don't forsee anytime in the future ever needing to stay up past midnite or sleep in after 6AM. But that's just me, everyone has their own lifestyle. I have everything I need right here and NO MAN ever has everything he "wants" so.... Ken Bower Chiayaphum Thailand

Yes, I have lived in SoCal during my lifetime. First visited SoCal in the 1950's and thought it was Shangri-la back then. Then moved briefly to Glendora and Culver City while in the military, and spent some time at Ft. Ord while in Army Basic training. Immediately upon retiring from the Army in Feb 1975, I moved to Westminster CA for a year, then into our new house in Fountain Valley CA until 1978, then to W. Covina, and Montebello, then Santa Ana for short periods of time B4 being transferred by the AAA to San Antonio Texas in 1981. Returned to Fountain Valley and Irvine for short periods of time after I returned from 5 years in Saudi Arabia, while working for McDonnell Douglas in the late 1980's. Then lived in San Marcos for 3 years (1988-1991) while working at Tri City Medical Center in Vista/Carlsbad/Oceanside CA. As all my kids/grandkids/great grandson live in SoCal, (son in Costa Mesa, daughters in Anaheim, Buena Park, and Oceanside, and granddaughter and great grandson in Fountain Valley, I do know Orange and San Diego Co. well. Would probably live there if it were possible on our retirement pay but all the info we streamed through indicated that it is impossible to live in Orange or San Diego Counties for less than $68,000/yr. and as I am nearing age 70 and my wife hasn't worked since age 21, we just cannot afford to live there. And I truely believe that I am happier living here in Chiayaphum than I would ever be living in SoCal with all it's urban problems. Ken/Rattana Bower Chiayaphum Thailand http://www.mgnewman.com/kenlat/

We live in the small village of Ban Sakanam, about 12 km from downtown Chiayaphum. While Chiayaphum province has a total population of over 1,000,000 people making it one of the largest provinces in population, the capital is somewhat small. It just got a mall 3 years ago and just added Tesco-Lotus Dept. store last year. (it is doing a boom business btw, always overpacked). Chiayaphum is 1 1/2 hours drive NNW of Korat or 1 1/2 hours drive SW of Khon Kaen, in the heart of Isaan. Almost everyone in the province is employed in the rice farm business. My wife and all of her brothers and sisters have adjoining rice farms, but they are ALL farmed by one sister and brother-in-law. One of her brothers moved to Udon Thani province and has a water buffalo and cow farm, another brother has his own rice and tapioca farm near Ubon, one sister lives up in Sakonnakorn, and her other sister not in the farming business lives with us and is married to a brit who is visiting here now from London for seven weeks. We get on very well and I really enjoy having him around to speak English with and have someone to watch all the NFL and BNA games with (even though I occasionally have to struggle through a soccer (fake football) game in return. I do not think I could ever be happy living in Bangkok, even though I really enjoy visiting there a couple days/month, nor in Pattaya full time, but really am enjoying living in the "real" Thailand. With us now having a phone line in at the house, allowing us to have computer hookup right here at home, and having UBC Platinum CCTV, along with a source of unending book loans, I have plenty of "activity" to fill each day here, without dealing with the hoards of people, traffic, smog, noise of Bangkok and Pattaya. Our village, Ban Sakanam or Chiayaphum, Village II, has at best 100 families, and the largest of the 9 villages in our "barrio" has about 300+ families. We "socialize" with almost all the neighbors on a daily basis, and I like everyone in our neighborhood. All are hard working families, just working the fields for their existance. In my 36 trips to Thailand, I'm glad Chiayaphum finally got the infastructore necessary for us to really enjoy life here (i.e. mall, Foodland, high speed internet cafes, a Danish Restaurant and a new American/Thai Restaurant that just opened next door to it, and just enough stores in downtown to provide us with our meager needs). Retirement life is so much more fulfilling and enjoyable here than where I lived in the U.S. (that would include Lafayette Indiana where I was born and raised for 18 years, Denver Colorado, Ft. Walton Beach FL, Alamogordo NM, Kokomo IN, Dover DE, Glendora CA, Sierra Vista AZ, Springfield VA, Westminster CA, Fountain Valley CA, W. Covina CA, San Antonio Texas, Yuma AZ etc). I feel I'm home to stay here. Ken Bower Chiayaphum Thailand http://www.mgnewman.com/kenlat/

Howdy, B4 I moved permanently to Ban Sakanam, Chiayaphum Thailand this year, I had travelled to many places on this planet. Due to my work, (including installing Satellite Communications and Microwave Commo Stations, and working five years as a Personnel Administrator for McDonnell Douglas), I have worked in, lived in or visited 39 countries and all 50 United States. For the last 10 years or so of my working life, I started looking around for where I might retire. I considered Florida, Texas and California in the United States, Thailand, Philippines, Portugal, Greece (islands), Cyprus, and Macau. At the time of my retirement I'd already made 30 trips to Thailand and it seemed the logical place to retire as I love the people here and the way of life. Now, I'm NOT the typical expat in that I don't drink or smoke and really never did whore around as some expats do "occasionally"....lol As luck would have it, on my first trip to Thailand after I retired, I met my present wife, (Jan 1995) and by Sept, we were married. We moved to San Antonio Texas and then Yuma AZ, then returned to San Antonio spending 10 years living in the U.S. B4 moving permanently back to Chiayaphum on my 36th visit to Thailand. Truthfully, I could NOT have moved here even two years ago because there was not the "infastructure" in place for me to have enjoyed life here on a permanent basis. But now, with the advent of having a mall in town that includes Tesco-Lotus, having Foodland here now, having many ADSL internet cafes available, and our village (Ban Sakanam) having reliable electricity, running water etc. it has become "quite livable". In fact, I wouldn't think of living anywhere else. Now, that said, we do retirement a little different than most expats w/Thai wives. We spend about two weeks/month in Chiayaphum and travel throughout Thailand/Asia at will the other two weeks of every month. (Just returned from Christmas Shopping in Singapore) and we spend time each month in Bangkok, Udon Thani, Korat, Pattaya, and other locations at will. I guess it took me so long (36 trips) to Thailand to make up my mind to actually retire here mostly because I knew Bangkok was NOT an option for retirement (love Thailand/hate Bangkok) and Pattaya Beach, where I spent the majority of the first 35 trips, also does not offer the lifestyle I wanted for my retirement years. Sure would love to hear from other expats, who like me, decided to retire in Isaan. Would love to hear what steered them to that decision. Ken Bower Chiayaphum Thailand http://www.mgnewman.com/kenlat/

Thanks Bigmofo, I would prefer to ONLY look at properties WEST of Sukhumvit as getting accross Sukhumvit to the beach side from the EAST at age 69 could be a "lifelong" experience. You are right to recommend Fair Properties. I've known about them for years. I know I'll find something once there. I was hoping that my posting would lead to an "owner" replying with a deal on somewhere I was already familiar with that would be becoming vacant in Oct. Ken Bower Finally making the move I should have made in 1972 after my first year in Pattaya...lol

Well, It's time to start searching for a long term lease apartment, condo or home in Pattaya Beach. While we will more than likely still use Lat's home in Chiayaphum as our permanent resident and will most likely be spending more days each month there than in any other "single" location, we will for sure be spending more time in Pattaya than any other location outside Chiayaphum. As as that is a given, we have decided it may be cheaper to find an apartment, condo, house in Pattaya to take on a long term lease (under 12,000 baht/mo. but better if under 10,000 baht) and sign a year's lease, than to pay 1,000 baht/night for say 10-12 nights/month. That way we will have a place to leave some of our clothes and "stuff" and be able to really travel light on all trips back and forth. So, here is what we'd be looking for. A one or two bedroom apartment, condo, house in Pattaya (west of Sukhumvit) or Jomtien (west of Sukhumvit) or Naklua on the beach side of Naklua Rd anywhere from N. Pattaya Rd, (dolphin circle) to Wongamat Beach. If any of our members know of rental property that "may" suit our needs, please advise. Ken/Lat Bower San Antonio Texas (for 110 more days)

I have accessed the INS website that shows all the INS offices for North East Thailand, (shown below). Northeastern part of Thailand Loei Province Chiang Khan District Tha Li District Pak Chom District (under responsibility of Immigration Office of Chiang Khan District) Nong Khai Province Muang Nong Khai District Bung Kan District Nakhon Phanom Province Muang Nakhon Phanom District Mukdahan Province Muang Mukdahan District Ubon Ratchathani Province Sirinthorn District (under responsibility of Immigration Office of Phibun Mangsahan District) Na Tan District (under responsibilty of Immigration Office of Khemarat District I suppose since Lat and I will be living in Chiayaphum and using her home there as our primary residence, that we will be required to "report" to the "nearest" INS location to Chiayaphum in order to apply for my RETIREMENT ENDORCEMENT for our AO visas. Or does anyone know for sure that we can simply apply while we are visiting in Bangkok or Pattaya Beach or other area or Thailand? IF we must use the INS office closest to Chiayaphum, does ANYONE know which office is closest to Chiayaphum? Neither Lat nor I are "familiar" with the INS districts shown below. And if the requirement is to report to the nearest INS office, I'm assuming that we will be required to report there to file our address requirement every 90 days there as well. I thought that someone had mentioned that it is now possible to mail in a postcard with the present address in to the Bangkok office every 90 days now but if that card is "lost in the mail" (and who ever heard of mail being lost in the Thai Post Office system...lol), what happens. Do you get a postcard back after they receive your postcard that you can keep/file that assures that you are current in satisfying your commitment? I also heard that you can simply visit the Police station in your locality and submit the current address info? Can someone give us an absolute reading on this? Does INS stamp your passport each 90 days with a stamp showing you have satisfied the reporting process every quarter of a year? Please let us know the correct info and if you are in Thailand now, what/where/how you are complying with the requirement. Ken/Rattana Bower kenandlat@gmail.com http://homepage.mac.com/mgnewman/KenLat/

For the last 4+ years, I have put together a pretty good homepage containing a wealth of info directly aimed at my two target groups, those who travel to Thailand and active duty and veteran military personnel. http://homepage.mac.com/mgnewman/KenLat/ What I'd like to do now is EXPAND the homepage to include just as much info on all the other areas of the Orient and SE Asia, Australia, New Zealand. To do this, I'd like for all who read this that have favorite/bookmarked Links/Websites to send me the URLs via a reply to this message. I will review each and every URL sent, and will add each and every one that I find of general interest to those who access my homepage(only about 50/day right now), so that they can have access to all your favorite URLs as well as mine. Please help, Ken Bower San Antonio Texas (for 156 more days) Retiring in Chiayaphum, Thailand after that

Howdy, Now that Lat and I have decided to finally set a date for permanently relocating back to Thailand once again (Oct 5), one of the questions I'd like advise on is which visa to apply for. Since I am going to be 69 yr's old when my feet once again touch Thai soil, should I go for the "Geezer Visa" (Retirement Visa) or for the multiple entry O/A visa. What are the monotary qualifications for getting either of those visas renewed in Thailand after my initial 1 yr. visa runs out? Somehow, having 18,000 Baht in one of the Thai banks and/or showing that my Army Retirement Checks and Social Security retirement entitlements (currently just over $30,000/yr guaranteed for life) should do the trick right? I'd just like to have the correct requirements for both spelled out please. I'd like also to hear any/all problems the members here have had with getting the renewals, and what paperwork must be submitted with each of the two catagories of visas. And where I would apply and what timeframe B4 the current visa expires should I apply. Since my wife is an American citizen but still a Thai (will have current Thai ID card etc.) someone told us that once we arrive "in-country", she can appear at the Immigration Office on Soi 8, Pattaya (or wherever they move it too) and she can have her visa stamped for a 1 year stay where she will NOT have to do the 90 day visa runs. Can anyone tell us for sure if that is true or not. If so, do we need to spend the extra dough to get her a multiple entry O/A visa or just apply for a Tourist Visa for her and hope it will be stamped for a year as some of our friends who travelled back to Thailand on an American passport have done. Thanking you for your responses in advance, Ken and Rattana Bower San Antonio Texas http://homepage.mac.com/mgnewman/KenLat/ Homepage

Howdy all, I know Lat and I have NOT been doing much posting or reading of the posts from y'all here lately but part of that is because we have made a major decision that will effect the rest of our lives together. We have decided, along with my cousin Gene Kendall, to relocate PERMANENTLY to Thailand. Our tickets are bought and paid for, and now we are starting to throw out, give away, all our "treasures" we have accumulated over there past 10+ years. We will either drive to SoCal o/a 27 Sep and sell our 2001 Cheve Cavalier Z24 which currently has only 22,800 miles on it and has been cared for like a newborn child in California while we spend 4 nights with our kids, grandkids, and new great grandson B4 launching for Bangkok OR we will sell it here and fly to John Wayne Airport (Orange Co. Airport) on 29 Sep 2005. That decision should be made once we are sure that no person wanting our vehicle in SoCal is willing to pluck down $6,000 for it (less than low retail)with the stipulation that it be paid for in cash no later than 2 Oct 2005 and we hand over the title, and car keys to that person in Anaheim CA on 2 Oct. Let us know IF you are in the SoCal area and interested in buying our vehicle under those terms. Then in mid-afternoon on 3 Oct, my oldest daughter, who lives in Anaheim will drive us to LAX where we will launch on China Air Flight 5 to Taipei and once arriving there will continue on China Air Flight 65 to Bangkok, arriving to start our new life in Thailand at 1AM on 5 Oct. Lat's sister will be picking us up and driving us on to Chiayaphum "straight away". We plan to set up house in Chiayaphum at the house that Lat already has there. We have enclosed the downstairs which used to be open air with cement floor this past year, added an American style toilet and hot water heater for showering, air conditioning for our downstairs bedroom and are currently having the kitchen area remodeled. We are not certain if we will continue to use Chiayaphum for a "permanent" base of operation or not, but will take say 4 months or so to really get to know the whole of the Chiayaphum area, medical, prime care management and dental professionals available, level of competence at the local hospitals and clinics, and just how I adjust to life in Isaan. If we decide that a better parameter is to move full time to the Pattaya Beach area and just spend a week or so every month with the family in Chiayaphum, this looks like possibly the strongest challenge to our living full time there. Any hints, suggestions on how to make our transition easier will be appreciated. IF there are any farangs whose wives/families live in the Chiayaphum area and you frequently or infrequently visit the area, please let us know. Wish us well in our new life and IF any of you ARE interested in the Z24, let us know. Ken and Rattana Bower San Antonio Texas http://homepage.mac.com/mgnewman/Kenlat/ Homepage http://kenandlat.diaryland.com daily THIS AND THAT column

Thanks for letting me know about the Pattaya Bar Hop URL being broken. Right now, Mike Newman, who does ALL the work putting my homepage/Link up and making all the revisions has been working for many hours completing the Feb updates) we update and add newfound Links every month AND in alphabetizing all those already on the homepage. As he works full time as the Manager for the Social Security Office in Saipan, his dancecard is already very full. Then he is an avid scuba diver to boot AND he is preparing to retire and move full time to Korat in less than two months. I HAVE spent 14 hours locating all the broken/dead links within the website working on all the topic headings from 9/11 to Military and he said he will work on getting them deleted ASAP but he wouldn't have any time until at least next month to do any more than that. So I plan to send him all the broken/dead links from the topic heading Misc. to White House (time permitting to do the work involved) sometime in Mar 2005 and the Pattaya Bar Hop and other link missed by our first revision will hopefully be eliminated at that time. I am just so thankful that Mike finds the time just to do the updates/additions, it is a small wonder to me (as I am completely computer illiterate other than profecting Link surfing techniques) how we keep the homepage in any sort of order. We both are SO grateful when people take the time to notice that there is a URL/Link broken and do notify us as it lessens our burden. I use most of my allotted 3 hours online (yes I am married and do NOT want to take quality time with my wife online) creating and writing my daily THIS AND THAT column. http://kenandlat.diaryland.com Have a look though today's column and visit Older Entries when you have time. Thank you, Ken Bower http://homepage.mac.com/mgnewman/KenLat/ Homepage http://kenandlat.diaryland.com daily THIS AND THAT column