Eneukman

No easy answer to this. To begin with, I would suggest obtaining a multiple-entry non-immigrant O visa from a consul in the USA. With this visa, you must enter Thailand within 90 days of the visa being issued. When you arrive, you will be given permission to stay for 90 days, after which you will have to do a visa run. When you re-enter Thailand, you will be given permission to stay for another 90 days and so on. If you re-enter the country a day or two before your visa expires, you will be given permission to stay for a further 90 days. It may be possible to obtain an extension of up to 3o days from the Immigration Office on Jomtien Beach Road, Soi 5. After that, there are reports that the consul in Penang is now issuing multiple entry non-Immigrant O visas, but the current position would have to be checked nearer the time as things seem to change depending on the mood at the time of any particular Immigration officer1 If Penang aren't issuing multiple entry non-Immigrant O visas, you may still be able to obtain a tourist visa from them (valid for 60 days). If all else fails, it might then be an idea to return to the USA for a short holiday and obtain another multiple ebtry non-Immigrant O visa from a Consul there. Hope this helps, Alan

I've other plans for the evening - though I may look in later on with a tg in tow. Alan

True, but based on a cost of 800,000 baht and a net yield of 4%, the loss of income to you would be less than 3,000 baht per month. I haven't got round to buying a truck yet but will probably do so in another year or so - maybe less if I take a live-in. Alan

I rent a double room condo in View Talay 2A. The original owner put an aircon unit in the living room only. In the bedroom, he installed a good ceiling fan, which I have to say I prefer. Apart from being better for your health, it's also considerably cheaper - less than 1 baht per hour to run. Alan

I've read this as well but can't recall the exact rules. Certainly, indicating that you intend to become a UK resident should be sufficient for you to get the treatment you require free under the NHS. For fuck's sake illegal immigrants can get free treatment! One danger I see in making a statement that you intend to become a UK resident should you need medical treatment whilst visitng relatives etc is that this could invalidate any claim that you now have a domicile of choice in Thailand. This could have dire consequences for thr wealthier members who have transferred the bulk of their funds offshore to avoid Inheritance Tax. If the Revenue decide that such a claim means that you are regarded as being domiciled in the UK (and I think it almost certainly would as you are efffectively saying that you no longer live in Thailand), your worldwide estate would be liable to Inheritance Tax rather than just your estate in the UK. I don't intend to go into a lengthy discussion on domicile here, as it is a somewhat complex issue. However, when you leave a country in which you had acquired a domicile of choice (such as Thailand), you immediately reacquire your domicile of origin. Alan

I used InsureandGo for my last trip from the UK before moving out here permanently. It was also the first time I had to make a claim and I was far from impressed by the service they provided. I phoned from Thailand and asked for a claim form to be sent - they didn't send one. My mail was being re-directed to my brother by this time (that's a rant for another time ) so I phoned again and asked them to e-mail a form to me. Despite my repeating this, the stupid bitch kept saying I'll put in the post. I think her IQ must have been no higher than 50 as I just could not get her to comprehend that it had to be e-mailed as I wouldn't receive it, if it was posted. Eventually, I ask to speak to a supervisor. None available as they're all in a meeting. I ask for one to call me back as a matter of urgency. No one did so I called again and surprise, surprise, they're all in another meeting. At least the guy I spoke to e-mailed the form to me. I then see that they wanted my boarding passes. I wasn't advised of this when I originally phoned so had thrown them out as I would be moving out of my flat permanently in less than 2 weeks. I get round this by photocopying the stamps in my passport, showing my arrival and departure dates. A check on their web-site revealed that the claim should be settled within a certain time of all documentation being received. A phone call to my brother confirmed that nothing had been received, so I phone them from Thailand and am told that they were still awaiting further documentation. I ask what documentation they needed and am still awaiting an answer, aslmost 2 years later. I ask for a supervisor to call me but no-one has the courtesy to return my call. This whole process was repeated a number of times until they eventually settled my claim in full. Overall, I was less than impressed with the standard of service I received from them after submitting my claim and if I hadn't retired here, think I would have been looking at a different company for the next year. They fell down badly on the simplest of things - returning a call to a custome who was not happy. This gives the impression that customer service is not important to them and that is the worst thing ANY company can do. At least they did settle my claim eventually. Alan

In the Uk, we call blood pudding, a black pudding. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blood_Sausage In Scotland, we also have a red pudding http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red_pudding Sorry, no idea where the ingredients come from for locally produced black puddings or haggis. Alan

They ask you in the application form. If you lie and say no, the policy could be invalidated should you ever need to make a claim, even if it's for something totally unrelated to yuor pre-existing condition. Alan

Book early if you want to go as astronomers from all over will be fighting to get the best view points. A partial eclipse will be seen from Thailand, if I understand the graphics correctly. 108% coverage suggests that the Moon will be close to its closest point to the Earth during the eclipse. Alan

I was going to start new thread but I'll ask the question here. Many people in the older age bracket have a pre-existing medical condition, which will not be coverd if you were to take ill in the future. However, I believe that there must be some sort of group insurance policy available that will cover such conditions, albeit for a considerably higher premium. Anyone ghave any sugestions here? Alan

If you take any internal flights within Thailand, it's also accepted as your ID. I would also take your passport with you - just in case it's needed for any brush with the authorities. Alan

Once you get a retirement pension, you MUST then get a re-entry permit if you want to leave Thailand for any reason during the validity period of your visa. If you don't get the permit, you will only be given 30 days when you come back into Thailand. In other words, your visa will no longer be valid. You can get either a single entry permit for 1,000 baht or a multiple permit for 3,800 baht. So far, I've always obtained a multiple permit even though it would have been cheaper to apply for a permit each time I wanted to escape from Thailand for a few days.. Application forms are available from Immigration and the adjacent photocopying shop will take the copies and photographs required. Alan

I read elsewhere that Honey is currently closed for renovation. I'm not sure when it's going to re-open though. Alan

I think I've got all the dates recorded. Alan

I have to correct Nightmarch on his comments about Rock Girls on Soi 15. I wandered into this place by chance a few weeks back and whilst it is not up to the standard of the likes of Happy, New Living Dolls 1, etc, the music they played when I was in was good rock music. I detest the "car alarm" music Nightmarch describes and unless they have changed their policy recently, the music was very much to my taste. As an aside, I had a nice 3 - some from there one night. Alan

That was my experience last year though I'm sure I was in and out quicker than that in the morning. The photocopy shop next to Immigration will take your photographs for you. Remember to get your multiple re-entry permit before you next leave the country though. It's a painless procedure as well. Last year, I applied for mine the following day. Alan

That's the way I go as well. If I can't reach agreement with a girl, be it because of price, short time/long time, what she time she leaves in the morning or whatever, I just move on. Also as I live here there's always the next day if it's getting late. Alan

Remind him to log out when he's finished. I once posted 2 or 3 replies under his name on another board before I realised I was logged in under his name! Alan

No pics I'm afraid. I wanted to keep the camera lens intact. Alan

You can, but depending on the file size and number of pictures, this could take rather a long time. It would probably be better to use a flash drive (I know nothing about these) or a seperate external hard drive. The external hard rive also serves as a useful means of backing up important data etc. Alan

I was in town last night and only paid 10 baht from View Talay 2 to a bit past Royal Garden Plaza. Paid 100 baht back from Soi Post Office, but that was only because last night's tg decided to charter a bus before a could stop her! The driver asked me how much I would pay so I said roy baht to emphasise the point that I knew the fare structure. Alan

I believe it's closer to £90 or more if done in Thailand. And with the introduction of biometric passports, the bastards are only issuing 32 page passports, which for those of us based here is fucking useless. Can anyone explain in simple terms the difference between a 32 page and a 48 page (I think) passport apart from the obvious that one has 16 more pages than the other. Talk about failing to provide a service to British ex-pats living here!!!! Alan

Hitting the F5 button also has the same effect. It's not a hassle for me to do this and is perhaps quicker than re-opening the site from scratch. Still useful to know though for those who do find it irritating. Alan

One factor I'm not sure that everyone takes into account is the cost of return visits back to their home country. I'm at the stage where I cannot any longer spend 12 hours or so cramped up in economy class so it is now my intention to fly either Business Class or if possible 1st Class. One return Business Class flight every 18 months/2 years is within my budget. Also, I have regular expenditure in the UK of a bit over 6,000 baht though this will be halved when I reach the age of 60. It could actually be reduced by about a third now if the British Governement implement proposals to reduce the number of years National Insurance contributions you need to make to qualify for the full retirement pension. Alan

I need to do this next year so would be interested in the definitive answer also. The last time I renewed my passport, my old one was returned to me so I was assuming that all I would have to do would be to take my old and new passport to Immigration and get them to transfer the stamps to my new passport. I need to renew my retirement visa in August so if I remember, I'll ask them what they need. Alan