chas

Just to follow up on my post before. I had a call today from BUPA Pattaya asking if I'd got the renewal letter and was I going to renew. I haven't got the letter yet but the lady said the quote was 19,700 baht for me at 67 years. I think that's the same as last year. That for the Ruby level of cover (see their website). I asked if they would cover me after 70 years of age and the answer was no they wouldn't. I said I was going to look at other options, but might stay with them. So if I can drag myself along I might go to the EX-Pats Club on Saturday to find out about their group sceme. I think it's with AA Insurance here in Pattaya. I'll have to worry about 70+ when it happens. I think nobody else will

I retired to Thailand 2 years ago. I was just in my 65th year. I contacted BUPA Thailand by e-mail before I came. They have a Thai website - but in English. I told them I would be 65 by the time I got here and asked if they would still cover me or should I sign up before my 65th birthday, while I was still in the UK and under 65. They replied that as I would still be in my 65th year it would be ok - I could join when I arrived. They have an office in Pattaya on Sukhumvit Road - near the Bangkok Pattaya Hospital. Their website shows the various levels of coverage and the cost depending on age also - up to the age of 65 I think. Over 65 they just gave me a quote. I downloaded their form from the web and filled it in including previous illnesses. No medical for me but they repeated back to me on the contract the problems I had given them and said I was not covered in those areas. One of the things I put was that I went to the hospital a few years back about a cough I had after I'd given up smoking. But everything was ok and the cough has gone now. But BUPA had it down that I wouldn't get paid for a lung problem. So they may exclude every small thing to cover themselves - rather than you! In my first year I think I paid about 40,000baht for the top coverage. Last year I went down a level and excluded, for example, coverage for outpatient treatment. I paid just under 20,000 last year, and for 2 years on the run have had a 'no claims bonus' of about 2,000baht. I will look at the ExPats scheme this year as a comparison. But please check for the up to date information from BUPA. I actually had difficulty getting short-time(!) coverage for my first month here as the companies said I would not be resident in the UK. In the end I found an insurer that accepted my mailing address.

Leemo - I had the same problem but with a Sony laptop. I took it to TUcom and they diagnosed a faulty motherboard. They replaced it for 6000 baht and it was fine. The problem is, as always, you are in their hands. When it worked again I checked up on some rather techi forums about the Sony to see if I'd been done. There was agreement that the motherboard was often the problem but solutions varied from a resoldering of the power connections (10 baht) to replacing the board. The freezing up was very frustrating - I hope you get it fixed ok.

I just got this from the Bug Man in Chang Mai. From : John Moore Sent : 11 May 2006 14:49:46 To : patrickPatrick Tolson Subject : Re: Bug in the condo | | | Inbox Patrick Identifying nasty looking creatures like this is not my forte but it looks to me like a Lepismatid (Thysanura). Some are called Silverfish. Understandably, the number of scientists who have studied these creatures is rather small so i can't tell you what species. Although they are reputed to eat flour, book bindings and wallpaper paste (the bugs, that is, not the scientists), they are probably less dangerous than the Issan ladies you mention, who, I imagine, would be much more interested in the upper object in your first picture (in very large quantities) than in admiring your bugs. The females reach sexual maturity after ten to twelve moults, are extremely active sexually and lay their eggs in cracks and crevices (I'm referring to the bugs again, of course). Apparently the males deposit sperm on silken threads placed on the ground for females to pick up with their genitalia. So you could crawl around removing any sperm-laden silken threads you can find and that should do the trick. Alternatively, I have not come across these up here but I imagine they would make quite agreeable pets and give far less trouble than the average Issan lady. As is painfully obvious, I know nothing at all about these creatures, but if I were you I would regard them as a lucky omen and buy a few lottery tickets on the strength. If you're really worried about how to deal with them, squirt them with anything you have (aftershave is probably as good as any insecticide). If it's dealing with the Issan ladies that's the problem, it would take a wiser man than me to help. Regards John Moore www.thaibugs.com insects from the forests of Northern Thailand As you see he has been of great help. I maybe made a mistake mentionig Issan ladies in my e-mail to him as he seems to have gone off track. If you can squirt anything into the far corners of your ceiling that maybe of help. Raylene in 'another place' seems to squirt a lot. Could you employ him? Fuck me. All my book bindings and wallpaper has disappeared since I was on Soi Bukoew. They don't act like silverfish to me. Glad to be of so much help to you! Patrick

Irishman. Sad git that I am, I found thaibugs.com and e-mailed johnmoore@thaibugs.com with your photos attached. Hope that is ok. He welcomes callers.Probably welcomes attached bugs as well. It was the ever sensible owen' who suggested identiying them online. Ain't technology wonderful. Patrick

Irishman - I get them too. 9th floor in the middle of town. I'm now on a mission to find out what they are. I ask ladies when they are here and they make insect type walking movements with their fingers. ( the ladies that is). I've never seen one move, and until I saw the antlers/claws/mandibles/stings?? on your Jomtien branch I'd assumed they were larvae. Anyway I can't talk all night I have my ironing to do and my grouting to scrub

I just felt the street did not have much to offer. It ended in some open land - there are probably half a dozen condos on there now! The apartments had a gated highwall round whith a courtyard inside, a bit closed in for me. But everyone has their own view.

Yes Durex are on sale everywhere in Pattaya, but the detail and name on the packages is in Thai and I am unsure which are the poly ones. The Thai pages of their website are of no help - though maybe the package colouring is the same. When I have asked in Boots and elsewhere I get no real answer. Can anyone help? Thanks

Hi Penman Their website is http://www.pattayavacations.com I had a look about a year ago as a permanent place but it seemed a bit dingy and I wasn't keen on the location. But each to their own. Good luck

Alan You can get Tadalis at the pharmacy which is on 2nd Road on the same side and just to the north of Tim's Beer Bar/GoGo. The lady offers a discount for quantity which I blushingly refuse as I'm only buying them for a friend I'm sorry I can't remember the price but a lot less than Cialis and they have the same effect. Patrick

ite - If you join BUPA before you are 65 you can pay every year until you are 70 to get cover, but I'm not sure they will cover you after that. But you need to check. They have a BUPA/Thai website and an office on Sukhumvit near the Bangkok-Pattaya Hospital. Patrick

Some information just to clarify further the process proving monthly income rather than 800,000 in the bank in Thailand. . Firstly the letter I sent to the British Embassy in Bangkok. Note that the monthly pensions are paid into my UK accounts and only transfer into the Issan buffalo market via the atm, though I do have a small Thai bank account. 23 July 2005 Kuhn Jim Ackrawong The British Embassy Consular Section 1031 Wireless Road Lumpini Pathumwan Bangkok 10330 Dear Kuhn Ackrawong Mr xxxxxx: Request for confirmation of Pension Income in support of ‘O’ ‘Retirement Visa May I formally request that you certify that my income from pensions in the UK is as given in the documentation with this letter. I am 66 years of age, living in Pattaya, and have a Multiple-Entry ‘O’ Visa that expires on 4 August 2005. Enclosed are the following:- 1. A photo copy of the relevant page from my passport 2. A summary of my Pension Income showing four pensions 3. A Pay Advice from xxxxxx confirming the amount payable 4. A letter from the xxxxxx confirming this year’s payment 5. A letter from The Pension Service showing income from the UK State Pension against my National Insurance Number xxxxx 6. A letter showing monthly pension income from Standard Life of Edinburgh 7. Payments from the above are shown on Transaction Details from two accounts at Barclays Bank 8. A Money Order for 1,803 baht in payment of the fee which includes payment for a 40 baht stamp for return of my documentation. I have highlighted the pension income each month on the Barclays statements I have registered on your Embassy website. Further information is as follows:- 1. Mobile phone xxxxx 2. Home phone xxxxxxx 3. e-mail xxxxxxxx Finally thank you for your telephone help in completing this application, very useful and courteous. Please let me know if there is a problem or you need any further information. Yours sincerely xxxxxxxxx The Embassy then reply with a letter that confirms I am a British Citizen, that I reside in Pattaya and they have nothing in their records to my detriment. (What do they know?) They confirm the amount of the pensions per month - I have never pressed the point about gross or net amounts. Then they ask for cooperation in my application. You make the postal order out to the British Embassy, Nana Post Office. I get a Doctor's certificate for almost nowt at a clinic. I take all this, fill in the form at the Immigration Office, photos, passport etc This time they asked about a Thai bank account (why? - but don't argue) and I took my pass book the next day, showing I had about 820baht in there. They stamped the extension in my passport. So it took overnight. I've done this twice. The first time I told them to keep the change from the Immigration Fee for the Police Children Fund - which they did; the second time they had a separate counter for payment, so I don't think tempt fate by offering anything. But they too were helpful. There are more details on the Embassy site, Pattaya Immigration website, plus Pattaya Ex-pats and Thai Visa sites. If it seems detailed and pedantic, that's because it is and it's worth getting it right. Patrick

Just now I posted in another thread that I have put commas after every number in the dial - up as well as the '9' to get an outside line. I get through first time every time. Not the last number though. Maddening thing was that it was an Aussie that told me Patrick

Apologies - there does appear to be a new Mercure Hotel on Second Road/Beach Road. Their website says so. I will check the other place I mention above to be certain I didn't dream it all. But I'd hardly make up the name Mercure. Patrick

It is the new Mercure Hotel. My condo just off South Pattaya Road looks north accross some low rise housing and trees. For months I watched a place being built which wasn't on Soi Diana nor Soi Buakhao. At night the windows were sometimes lit up as if taking a film or having a show. I couldn't fathom it. In the end my curiosity got the better of me. I walked down Second Road, going north from its junction with South Pattaya Road, turned east just before the Welcome Plaza Hotel and followed a long, boring road behind the Royal Palace and Royal Twins Hotels. There it was - I had been looking at the end of the new Mercure Hotel which stretched on down the road for 30/40 yards. It wasn't finished then and maybe the grounds are better now, but it is a long way from 2nd Road and several hundred yards from Soi Buakao - where the road eventually ends up. It looked a bit like 'Find a bit of land where we can stick the standard model hotel.' Too far from anywhere. Unless it it has it's own path to 2nd Road. Even then... Still haven't found out what went on in the rooms facing me. Patrick

I had a look in Christopher Moore's book Heart Talk. Under the heading 'Hurt Feelings' and 'Hurt Feeling Heart' he mentions kra thuean jai and sa thuean jai. He then explains ' These two heart phrases apply to the classic case where another's feelings have been hurt by actions or words. Hurt feelings can also translate, in some instances (but not all) as a loss of face.' So I hope that's clear now! Excellent book. Patrick

Will any photos in a trip report done in Word move ok with the text? Thanks Patrick

I found it too far out of town - when there is a choice of places nearer the action. Also they charged 500baht guest fee - some years ago. So you need to check if this is a factor with you. Patrick

Hi UK Dog - I visited Nakhon Phanom a couple of years ago and stayed at the Mae Nam Kong Grand View Hotel. I think it was 1000baht or less. Right on the river. A bit run down. But aren't we all. The view accross the river to the Laos mountains is spectaculor so book a river view room. Phone: 042 513564 and fax 042 511037 Note that it was either there or the AAHotel in Pattaya that cloned my credit card. It was ther that I left some mint polos on the bedside table and later put one in my mouth without realising it was covered in ants. It being the North East and to save face I just ate them. As you do. There is a posher, newer hotel, also on the river, with pool which was too expensive for me. Asearch under Nakhon Phanom hotels will find them both plus others. Patrick

What more can be said. Just a feeling of great sadness. RIP Om Patrick

British Enigma (a little doubtful about what that means) On your recommendation I went to have a look today as I want to move somewhere smaller and cheaper. I'm currently at Center - sorry about the incorrect spelling - Condo on South Pattaya Road. 80 square meters for 15,000 a month. Some comments about the Gazebo:- 1. It is a well built nicely designed place, the actual rooms have quality fittings. Very stylish Reception. They have little areas of tasteful white pebbles amongst the floor tiles, so I went arse over tit when I tried to make my equally stylish entrance. 2. I saw a studio room - which is really just a normal size hotel room. On the more expensive pool side the balcony has a wash basin - what for? But when I said there was no microwave (sad git that I am) the gorgeous one said I could put one on the balcony. Good idea. But not many eateries/shops nearby - apart from Big C. 3. The non-pool side overlooked a collection of basic Thai housing and a bit further on what looked like a Thai attempt at a Disneyland castle - a large building with some apologies for turrets. When I asked what it was I had a bit of a problem understanding her. I thought she said it was for 'black men'. I thought this was a bit off and got her to repeat it a few times before realising she meant 'bad men'. It's a prison. But not too close to be intrusive. Unless they get out. 4. You may be getting a good deal because she quoted me from 18,000 for pool view for one month to 14,500 per month for a year. Back view 16,000 for one month to 12,500 per month for a year. De-luxe were more of course. 5. She was a bit doubtful about a line for computer use in the room and said I should speak to her sister. The internet shop on site is free for 30 mins. 6. I thought the place was a bit far out - but then I am spoilt by Center Condo's central position. No motor bike taxis at the end of the road. But you may want to live marginally longer by using the baht bus. They are not so frequent out there near Sukhumvit -but they do come out of Big C opposite the hotel Soi as well and I was back getting off (the baht bus) in about 10 minutes - virtually at 2nd road. So it was nice place. Pool area ok, but so beautifully designed I felt they would not want it cluttred with the likes of me. She made a point of showing where I would shower before using the pool. Maybe she had in mind the blood flowing from the gash on my forehead from my arse over tit experience. But for a poor pensioner like me too much for long term stay considering the location. Patrick

Dave It would be good to meet for a drink. I will e-mail you when I confirm the flight. Patrick

Just reailsed it's Dave UK going on March 18 not Mr Tench Patrick

Mr Tench I've flown Emirates Manchester/Dubai/BKK quite a few times. The wait in Dubai is 3 hours. I like the stop over. Chance to have a walk-a-bout. Departure and arrival time are good too. Arrive BKK mid-day - in Pattaya by 17.00. Bit concerned about what Tom says. I have an upgrade on the way out as far as Dubai. I plan to fly out 2 days after you, staying for a month - pre-retirement visit. Officially retire to LOS in July. Maybe we can hook up for a drink. I used to live in the Park - worked for Raleigh. Now in Scarborough. Take care - Patrick

Termites are eating my house. Patrick