RWB

Anybody interested in fishing smaller boat Mar. 2, 3 or 4 with me please send me a PM. Ken, I'll get in touch with you, agree on best time, but it is when I'll be there. Wind a big consideration also. Isn't that the boat the FLB used to charter?

Is anybody up to date with fishing charters in the area? I have a slot booked with Pattaya Sports Club on one of the "big" boats but I would like to find a smaller outboard type charter also. Apparently an outfit called Vision Marine has, or had, that type but I sent email and and haven't gotten a return, which tells me a lot in itself. I'm used to running some distance out in the Gulf of Mexico to fish the oil rigs on smaller outboards and like the ability to move and move rather quickly. I'll be down from Udonthani the 1st week in March and if anybody has any info I would certainly appreciate it. Oh yea, I did use the search function. Thanks, Wayne

I think for most prescription drugs such as amoxicillian and other antibiotics Thailand will be cheaper, especially if generic. Also, usually the pharmacy will be cheaper than the hospital. You should, if at all possible try to get from a place that has been recommended by someone using the products sold there. I read not long ago that there was a raid with a bunch of impostor drugs found, in Bangkok I believe. I've had to buy antibiotics on several occasions, chronic sinuous, and they were cheaper than if I had paid the deductible from my insurance back in the states. I'm not sure how that would work out for long term use, many insurance companies have a cheaper rate for large quantities/long term use. Doesn't matter to me, all I have is Medicare and the supplemental my former employer pays for, which is absolutely useless here and if the supplemental company finds out I am here they will cancel. Just gotta' keep those 'ol fingers crossed and hope that when the time comes........... I have the republican health plan, don't get sick and if you do, die soon.

WHO IS ELIGIBLE FOR SSI ? Anyone who is: aged (age 65 or older); blind; or disabled. And, who: has limited income; and has limited resources; and is a U.S. citizen or national, or in one of certain categories of aliens; and In general, an alien who is subject to an active warrant for deportation or removal does not meet the citizenship/alien requirement. is a resident of one of the 50 States, the District of Columbia, or the Northern Mariana Islands; and is not absent from the country for a full calendar month or more than 30 consecutive days; and applies for any other cash benefits or payments for which he or she may be eligible, (for example, pensions, Social Security benefits); and gives SSA permission to contact any financial institution and request any financial records that the financial institution may have about you; and files an application; and meets certain other requirements. I don't think Soi 7 qualifies.

I switched to China Air several years ago, when NWA started raising it prices and charging 5usd a beer on even international flights. While NWA has an outstanding FF program China Air's FF program flat sucks. You will never get a free flt unless you book a bunch at "regular" fare. All that being said, China Air does have nice lounge, good eye candy, usually the cheapest flights, along with good flight times. NWA has the menopause group and lands at midnight. I figure the money I saved over the years earned me at least one "free" flight. China Air's website has always had the best prices, but sometimes you have to call and talk to a rep to get things straight. They had a major error in their flight schedules a couple of years ago that I discovered and it took me about 3 phone calls before I was able to convince a rep. They had 2 completly different schedules for the same flights depending on where you booked your start from. Their "in-house" computer program didn't show it, and I had to convince the rep to go to the public one. I figured I would at least get an upgrade, nope. When I booked my last flight their website wouldn't let me book from Houston because I was buying a one way ticket. I had to call to get it straight, but they were very courteous as always and helpful, after I got them to understand the problem. All in all, I recommend China Air.

The tech just changed the settings on my modem, and now with the outstanding, tremdous, stupendous, great premium package, lo and behold will wonders ever cease I have exactly the fucking same! 0.88 Mb/s download speed enabling me to download an 800Mb movie in only 123 minutes. He checked the speed, said everything ok and split. Just gotta' luv it. I will give it exactly 24 hours to improve considerable and then back to 3bb and no more mister nice guy.

Went to the 3bb shop this pm, the young lady there says pro only good for connection inside LOS, and yes I know I had already seen the speed test. At any rate, we will try for one month on premier, assuming that is what we actually get this time, and if I don't like it we will switch to pro. The lady says we have to change modem/router and they will be here tomorrow, I'm not holding my breath. This is the same lady that doesn't smile when we first went to shop and was anything but helpful back in Nov. When the owner of our subdivision called the next day she was in the subdivision office with papers etc in less than 20 mins with big smile. Why is it I don't think we will like premier? The lady is quite attractive anyway, at least when she does smile, even it is fake. Damn I miss Roadrunner, but Time Warner must have given these folks classes on customer relations or lack of.

We were supposed to have the 10 Mb, tested it before I left last Jan. and while it wasn't what it was claimed, as I remember speed was ok and I have lost the test. When I got back I noticed that downloads seemed slower and when I saw this post I decided to check. Crap, not even 1 Mb. Speedtest listed me as Maxnet in Khon Kaen, kinda close, 3BB in Udonthani. Anyway, it appears from what the wife says she has been paying we ended up with the Indy so now have to call and start dealing with them again, oh what a headache. It took 3 weeks just to get internet installed, up and running last time (the line was in in one day-all went to crap from there). Then they didn't ever send bill, for phone line or internet service. The wife had to track it down and pay. Glad I brought plenty of coated asprin 'cause I'm not going back. Ok, back to painting wall (honey do's).

Thanks for an interesting thread. I'm also looking at small car purchase in the next few months. Have to get really settled in and find out how much spare baht I'll have when all the retirement, SS, etc is added up and the reoccuring bills are subtracted. I considered a PU, I've owned one (Chevy 4X4) for many years, but too much room in the back. I really don't want to be the family taxi. 18 days and a seabag drag, one way.

I departed, very sadly, 8 Sept. Scanning was immediately after immigration exit area. There wasn't a big crowd and it went pretty quick. No scan before entering the gate area as before. A big crowd would cause a big delay, but, and I'm sure someone will be more than glad to correct me if wrong, I believe there is more than one immigration exit area. 10 weeks and I'm not counting, absolutely not counting, not counting, counting, counting

Same same in Udonthani. My elec/h2o bill was 1300bht last month sure to be higher this. The wife, who never had aircon and both kids spend all their indoor time in the bedroom with the a/c on, I get a good laugh out of it. the kids do their best to use all the water in Udon. I'll be back in Udon in 3 weeks, and when I return to the states it will be the same here for the next 3 months. Thailand isn't hot to me, born and raised in SE Texas/Gulf Coast, hot and humid. We never had a/c until well after I was grown and gone, mom and dad bought a couple window units when I was well into my 20's.

China has had some good prices for awhile, but notice carefully there are NO miles and no upgrades. I got a Houston/BKK via SFA back through LAX rnd trip 1104usd, but N class (60%miles, no seat selection). I couldn't find the class listed anywhere until after I booked. Got notification in Chinese, but "class N" was in english. I did get to pick my seats though because I have Gold Card. It sounds like some of those 747's maybe the old style? Only one movie screen, like the one from swampi to TPE. Now that would be a 12hr drag. Or, maybe with the new class seats, that for these prices you certainly wouldn't be sitting in.

As of today, Nok is listing Udonthani to Don Muang 1183 baht in May. My best guess would be that they will be flying to swampi. I'll probably try to call this weekend, can't be any worse than trying to call Air Asia. Nok did drop a direct Udonthani to Chaing Mai flt a couple of years ago that we were booked on and rerouted us at no extra charge. I don't believe they will be going belly up anytime soon.

Well it is al least somewhat comforting to know that I'm not alone in my efforts to contact Air Asia. They must have working numbers, internet to do business, just hide them from the public I guess. I will continue the effort to contact, but it may be that I will have to try to recover the money for my canceled flight when I get back in May, I'll have a few hours to kill in swampy. Air Asia has the best flight for me to Udonthani. usually cheaper than Nok, don't have to take cab from swampy to Don Muang and with my arrival time gets me to Udon about 2hrs earlier. Maybe if I git me one of them thar new fangled "computors" I can contact them or even post up on this har forum.

Does anybody have a working phone number or email address for Air Asia? The ones on their website don't seem to work, at least for me.

China Airline is better than NWA for sure. The beer/drinks are free and the eye candy is good, unlike US airlines. I've been flying China Air for a couple of years and they are pretty good. When swampy went down in Nov, China cancelled my flight, but had me on another the next day. It was pretty obvious that the phone people were not capable of dealing with the circumstances or I would have left on time (was at airport, already checked in). But, they did get the job done and on the way back I was upped to Business Class. As a rule they are on time, but this last trip every single flight was late, not by much and not enough to matter. One thing about China and I've heard EVA, don't count on FF free trips. The way I look at it, I save enough money in about 3 or 4 flights over the US airlines to pay for a "free" flight. As of this posting, flights available from Houston, Texas for 1104usd. I don't think we will see the 800usd flights ever again.

If you fly Air Asia just hope there isn't a problem at the airport and flights are canceled. When I couldn't get in through Cobra Swamp in Nov, China Air got me into Chaing Mai. Of course all flights were canceled in/out of swampy. I've been trying to get my money back or at least credit toward a future flight from swampy to Udonthani from Air Asia since the first week in Dec. Not only have I not gotten my money back I haven't even gotten a reply from them. About 5 emails sent. Real nice folks, maybe I'll try to call again for about the 100th time, they haven't answered the phone yet.

I use SpyBot, its TeaTimer can be a bit of a pain in that I never know whether what it wants to block is actually something I want blocked. If you are updating, adding etc be prepared to get some blockage, and just tell it to allow. I also use AdAware, it was free but now is pay. I haven't upgraded to pay as I read that the pay actually isn't as good as the free was. Although mine still works fine, I cannot update. It still gets rid of more tracking cookies than any other program, including the cookie that I get everytime I visit here.

yep SP2

Thanks, I still can't remember where I read that there was a problem, but didn't want to take a chance, gotta make this computer last for a bit more than a year before I move permanent to LOS.

Has anybody downloaded the latest windows SP3? I think I read somewhere that it isn't a good addition, unlike the other SP's. I may be wrong in my memory but it seems I read that it can actually slow you system. Anyway it is sitting around waiting to be downloaded but I am a bit leary. Thanks for any info

js007, right about the medicare A and B. B is optional and if you opt back in it costs. And yes they rip you by taking money out of SS so what you think you get you don't really get. I will opt out of B because I won't be able to use it or medicare period. To be truthfull I am not sure if one can opt out of medicare completly. I will have to do more research before I apply and have a friend doing the application right now so that will help some. Owen, unfortunately I am basing everything on 65 (I"m 63) or maybe a few months before, ie I am not working 2 or 3 months for a 10usd a month increase in payout. I do believe there is some extra to be added for military service in the 60's that isn't at present included in the annual SS statement. Everything on 65 that is except my pension from New Mexico which won't change no matter how long I wait, I receive my 1st check next month, which will be much to surprise of my ex-wife who is giving me all the grief she thinks she can by not signing a court order giving her half MY fucking pension, she thinks it is frozen by the court. The major item I have to do is go ahead and get in the fight with the VA for a service related disability, I dispise, no make that hate the VA.

Owen, I know it is low, but that is life. I spent a lot of time in satisfying but low paying jobs, forest fire fighter, Park Ranger/Superintendent/Law Enforcement, bar bouncer, and anti-Vietnam War USMC Viet Vet. My New Mexico employment was cut short (at 13yrs) by my whistle blowing, resulting in the largest Risk Management out of court settlement in New Mexico history. That and my inheritance was eaten up by a sadistic ex-wife, a man-hating ball busting lesbian attorney and a man-hating ball busting judge. 1/4+ mil USD and a bankruptcy. I will receive a small pension from New Mexico half going to the cunt I was married to. I will have only 10 years service in the position I am in now, surveyor for a Drainage District in SE Texas so that is why the payout is so low. At age 65, I figure around 2,400usd a month for all, will have quite a chunk of change for my last check, aprox 18,000usd. My health ins does not change to Medicare and when it comes time to die I plan on staying in Thailand. So not much, and yes I am gambling a bit on my health which is damn good everything considering. I have done about as much of the budget math I can at present, of course I can't anticipate a disaster, but I am sure that I can live within my means until time to check out, I just won't be able to live like a king. I do believe that we have to use the very best technology available and then drill, drill, drill. As long as we are dependent on our enemies to supply our life blood we will continue to decline. Just in case anyone thinks different I also think shrub et-all belong in one of their little CIA prisons and should enjoy all the programs they had for their previous guests with plenty of good 'ol H2O. Thanks again for all the good info. Keep it up, we need it whether we always like it or not.

Getting in on this thread a bit late, I was in Udon and just didn't check in. I always pay attention to Owen and Gary when it comes to budgets, economy etc. Some good advice there. I remember some time back that there was a budget thread here that was quite detailed and useful. I think that one must have a basic idea of how and where they want to live in LOS, make sure that they have more than enough to live that way then adjust when they actually give it a try. I think the cost of living is always going to be more than what one hopes. I like toys too but there isn't any hunting in LOS, plenty fishing, although my wife keeps telling me Thai fish no like farang. The exchange rate and inflation are my biggest concern at the present. I am not moving until early 2010 because the money isn't right for my retirement. When I do finish work, I will draw SS and 2 pensions for a total of about 2400usd a month. Not much, but more in LOS than it will be here. BTW both pensions are gov't and my health insurance from work carries over into retirement but will only cover 50% "out of area" ie LOS. I am married to a Thai lady, we won't be spending time in Pattaya (she doesn't like, maybe a few days when some of the old gang are all in town) and aside from buying a house (with farang features) we won't have much in the way of expenses. We do have 2 children to send through school and that is going to be a major expense, at present a bit over 20,000bht a year and sure to increase. If I get off my butt and get my VA disability then maybe a few extra usd. Not planning on coming back to the states maybe a trip to PI if I have the VA disability, but always have to keep unexpected trips etc in mind. Never forget the unexpected. We won't have a lot, but we don't need a lot, just enough to not have to worry. Oh and spike that was really uncalled for. UGH

I am paying 20,000bht per year for 2 children. This is for school in Udonthani, vs the village school which is free, or close to it. This includes most expenses, but there are always extras, lunch, snacks, after school snacks, before school snacks, during school snacks. My lady's daughter is pom pui mak mak and try as she might, she just can't say NO! to her. Oh hell I buy KFC for her and I hate KFC. Ok I'm easy too. I think very important children get the best education possible. I am sure there are even better schools in Udon but for now this is the best I can afford. My lady had started her daughter in Udon before we met. I began paying for the daughter last year and added son, now old enough, this year. Kudos to the lady for making education a priority without prompting.