TBKK

20 minutes ago, phantomfiddler said:

For me there is only one place, Rutnin Eye Hospital on Soi Asoke in Bangkok. I had both eyes done there, about a month apart, around $800 per eye, performed by an american trained and qualified surgeon who was sharp as a whip. I find the original post highly unlikely, and possibly for Lasik and not an intra-occular- lens-transplant. The results  in my case were immediate (ie next morning) and far exceeded my wildest expectations, being better than 20/20. I tend to research the hell out of anything like this before diving into the operating room, and the 2 top hospitals both said that if one is more concerned with perfect clarity and sharpness of vision then the fixed focal length lens is the way to go, and 10 years later I heartily agree. They both said that the variable focus lens, though more convenient for some, gave a bit of a compromise regarding visual accuity.  

Can you give me the name of the American trained surgeon that performed your operation? I am like you in the sense that I do extensive research also.

You only have one set of eyes!

I went to the website of Rutnin Eye Hospital and there are many surgeons.

How did you happen to chose this particular doctor?

2 hours ago, xylophone said:

 

Below is what I wrote in 2012 when looking around and to poss change from Bupa........you may want to do your own research, but look deep and extensively.

 

I have been searching for an alternative to my current Bupa policy, as outlined in another post of mine and I have looked IMG as a possible alternative because the price was very reasonable.

I did some research on the Internet about IMG and the feedback was not very promising with one particular trend evident throughout the complaints………the non-payment of claims on the basis that they were "pre-existing conditions", however when some complainants had stated the circumstances of the claim, most of them could never be construed as "pre-existing".

One actually suggested that because the company was registered in Indiana, USA, and the company states in its policy that any liabilities/claims against the company will be handled by the legal system in Indiana, then there is not a lot that one can do to try and overturn what is seen to be an incorrect policy decision by the company, i. e. once the company has made its decision you are pretty well helpless to challenge it.

One or two posts regarding poor service I could handle, but the more I searched the more I found so that did not give me any confidence.

Thanks for the info.

Will have to look at IMG with more caution! 

On 11/26/2016 at 3:07 AM, Sheryl said:

My current company is BUPA Thailand (Platinum Plan) but I am looking to change as they do not meet criteria #2 and 3. I want to switch to a policy which does while I am still healthy, one I can expect to stay with for life.

 

Still searching, just emailed a broker to help me. My "short list" was (in no particular order)

• Cigna Global
• A+ (SEA plan)
• Globaility
• William Russell
• April

 

Though the last one looks iffy as it seems, if I read correctly, that they require a second opinion by a doctor of their choosing. If so, that is out as I am not going to give an insurance company veto power over my health care, which is what that would amount to. But I may have misunderstood that provision.

 

It is also possible I have overlooked some, this is just what I have unearthed so far that looks possible.

 

 

I have also been shopping for an international health insurance plan.

You might want to look at IMG Global and Geo Blue (Blue Cross Blue Shield Network).

My short list is:

* IMG Global

* Cigna Global

* Allianz

* Geo Blue 

After working for over 30 years and earning health care under my pension, it appears that I will be losing my health care benefits at the end of this year. The pension fund has filed a lawsuit based on the fact that health care befefits are part of retirement benefits and earned retirements benefits can not be diminished  or impaired. I an not optimistic that the pension find will win this lawsuit. Bottom line, since I am 62 and not eligible for Medicare, I will be forced to purchase private health care in the market place. I looked at Obama Care and it is a disaster with high premiums and a high out of pocket expense. I am looking for an international health care program that will cover me in Thailand and in the U.S.. I would be interested if anyone has come across a private health care plan that they consider reasonable and good value for their money.

2 minutes ago, ubonjoe said:

You would get stamped in until April 15, 2018 unless you asked the immigration officer not to use your re-entry permit and get a 30 day visa exempt entry instead. If you did that though you would not be able to apply for a one year extension until you got a non-o visa.

Ok, understand...........thanks.

I acquired my first retirement visa in 2004 and you have more knowledge of Thai Immigration policy than anyone that I have come across. 

Very helpful information.

21 hours ago, ubonjoe said:

You have it correct but my suggestion would be to do a border hop shortly before your trip to get a new one year entry and then get a re-entry permit for that one year entry.

You could get a new new visa after October 4th of 2017without a problem. Before that date they might not issue a new one unless the were willing to cancel your still valid visa.

I have one final question that came to mind.

If I did a border hop in April of 2017 and extended my permission to stay until April 15, 2018, and I left Thailand on April 1, 2018 and returned on April 10, 2018, would my permission to stay remain at April 15, 2018 or would I get a 30 day extension upon entry would would push my permission to stay from April 15, 2018 to May 10, 2018?

24 minutes ago, ubonjoe said:

You have it correct but my suggestion would be to do a border hop shortly before your trip to get a new one year entry and then get a re-entry permit for that one year entry.

You could get a new new visa after October 4th of 2017 without a problem. Before that date they might not issue a new one unless the were willing to cancel your still valid visa.

Good idea........if I take a trip to get away from Songkran for about a week in early April, I can extend my permission to stay until April 2018.

Got it..........thanks for information. 

On 11/16/2016 at 4:09 AM, ubonjoe said:

You will be extending your permission to stay not your visa so its expiration date means nothing more than the last day you can enter the country for a new one year entry.

It is possible to get almost 2 years of total stay form your visa before you need to apply for the extension. After your visas enter before date you will need a re-entry permit to keep the last one year permission to stay valid it you want to travel.

So if I curretly have a ME - OA visa that expires on Oct  4 2017, and I currently have permission to stay until Nov. 7, 2017, best thing to do if I leave on April 30, 2017 and want to return on Nov. 1, 2017 would be to purchase a re-entry permit before I leave Thailand and then apply for a one year extension to stay before Nov 7, 2017 in Thailand.  

The other option would be to apply for a new ME - OA retirement visa when I get back to the States after April 30.

Does my understanding of this situation seem correct?

On 11/10/2016 at 2:06 AM, ubonjoe said:

If you have a multiple entry non-o visa you can apply for an extension during the last 30 days of any of the 90 day entries from the visa.

I have a related question, I have a ME O - A retirement visa, if I have permission to stay after expiration date of oringinal visa, can I apply for extension of my visa in Thailand before permission to stay expiration date or must I apply for extension before the expiration of my original visa?

On 10/29/2016 at 1:03 AM, Evilbaz said:

The last one year permission to stay, in the last couple of days before the "enter before date" expiry of the Visa then gives you a further year to stay, but does not come with a free re-entry permit like the first year.

You have to buy a single or mutiple re-entry permit from your Local Immi office, if you wish to leave the Kingdom and keep the second year "permission to stay" alive, or it will be lost on leaving.

 

OK.........now I understand.

My ME O - A retirement visa will give me multilply entry for one year from date of issue.

If I have permission to stay after expiration date of origingal visa, then I have to buy re-entry permit.

Thanks.

One further question, does anyone know how long the health certificate is valid when applying for a ME O - A visa.

One of the people at the Thai Consulte told me one month, but other people have told me 3 months and 6 months.

It doesn't give this information on the website of the Thail Consulate.

In other words, if I obtain a health certificate notorized on April 1 2017, do I have to apply for new ME O - A visa before May 1, 2017 ( 1 month), July 1, 2017 ( 3 months) or Oct. 1, 2017 ( 6 months)?     

15 hours ago, lopburi3 said:

Your question is about O-A visa or muli re-entry permit?  Not the same thing.

1.  Multi entry O-A visa issued by Consulat 2 May 2016 with validity to 1 May 2017 would be a new one year permitted to stay on any entry between those dates - so if enter 1 May 2017 would be permitted to stay until end of April 2018.

2.  Multi re-entry permit keep current permitted to stay until date alive for any entry up to that date.  So if now permitted to stay until May 1 2017 each entry would get that as your permitted to stay until date.

My question is about multiple entry O - A retirement visa.

I believe what you are saying is that if I have a multiple entry O - A retirement visa issued 2 May 2016 with validity to 1 May 2017, the re-entry permit issued with the visa is valid until 1 May 2017 and I would have to buy a new re-entry permit after 1 May 2017.

In other words, if I was permitted to stay until the end of April 2008, the expiration date of the re-entry permit issued with my original would not change.

Is that correct?

I would like to clarify an issue with the rules for a O - A retirement visa multiple entry.

I understand that you get a new year every time you enter the country  the first year of your retirement visa but I am not sure if the multipe entry permit expires on the date of my origingal retirement visa or the or the date of my visa extension every time I enter the country. 

Bought my Michelin City Pro's at Maxxis also and they are 10mm wider and 10mm lower profile than previous tires.

Price for both was 2200 BAHT.

They told me that they didn't have Pirellis or Dunlops in stock but he said that the City Pro is Michelin's latest model and he has sold quite a lot of them for Yamaha Nouvo.

Noticed a big difference in how the bike handles...........seems to have much better traction on the road.

Very happy with these tires.

OK.......will upgrade to Michelin City Pro.

Thanks for info.

I would like to change the tires on my Nouvo 135 and upgrade to a superior brand.

I currently have IRC tires on the bike now and I would like to upgrade to Michelin, Dunlop, or Pirelli.

I have discovered that these name brands do not provide the original size tires that the Yamaha recommends for this bike.

The recommended tire sizes for this bike are:

Front: 70/90 - 16 M/C

Rear: 80/90 - 16 M/C

The dealer told me that if I wanted to put a Michelin City Pro tire on the bike I would have to change the recommended size to:

Front: 80/80 - 16 M/C

Rear: 90/80 - 16 M/C

I did a little research on the internet and I found out that the so called "experts" recommend not changing the size of the original tires that were that were specified for the bike. The reason being that the engineers from Yamaha have done extensive research on the best tire size for the bike and the bike is designed to ride best by using the recommended tire size.

I would like to go with a better quality brand tire instead of the IRC but I not sure if I should listen to the experts or go ahead and change the original tire size which is recommended by the Yamaha for this bike.

In addition, if I do decide to change the tire size, would Michelin City Pro be about the best quality tire I could put on the bike.

If anyone has any extensive knowledge of this issue, I would appreciate your input.

Thanks for the info..........I think that I'll hold off for a while and wait for windows 10 to hit the market.

If windows 10 turns out to be the improved operating system that Microsoft wants you to believe, than I will go with it.

If not, than I'll opt for windows 8.

Good to know that I can use both the touch screen and the touch pad with windows 8.

I thought that I would have the option to use one or the other.

If buying a windows 8 laptop with a touch screen also gives me the option to use the touch pad, then there would be no reason not to buy the touch screen model and have the option of using one or the other.

Did you have any problems getting used to the touch screen using windows 8?

Dell gives me the option of ordering windows 8 with a touch screen or touch pad.

Since I've been using a touch pad with my laptops for the past 10 years, I think that I will continue to use a touch pad.

It seems like it would be easier to use a touch pad instead of a touch screen.

I am in the process of buying a new laptop, probably will get a slim notebook type, and I am not sure if I should get windows 8 or windows 7 on my new laptop.

I currently have windows 7 and I am happy with it. Also, if I get windows 8, I will have to make a decision if I should get a touchscreen or a touch pad with the windows 8 operating system.

I am comfortable with the touch pad on my current laptop and it seems that using a touchscreen would be awkward, bit I never have used a touchscreen with a laptop so I'm not certain.

I have no experience using window 8 so I would appreciate some input regarding this matter.

I have read you posts and it appears that your problem with the family may be the result of your lack of integrity and moral character. Most Thais, especially devout Buddhists, do not approve of adultery in marriage. This is true, not only in Thailand, but most Western countries throughout the world. If you wife does not care that you are committing adultery behind her back, than she is not interested in you but more interested in your money.................which you have foolishly given to her and her family!

Have any idea what the cost is?

I have version 10.0 and I would like to upgrade.

Do you want to replace your batteries or do you want to have your electric shaver repaired ?

If you are just looking for batteries, Amron (sic) in the basement of Tukcom has many different sizes of re-chargeable batteries located in the display case on your left as you enter the store

Bring your old ones and see if you can match them

The batteries have to be soldered to the circuit board by a repair technician so it's not just a matter of simply replacing the old batteries with the new ones.

I'll take a drive over to soi Town In Town and see if the guy at that repair shop can do the job. It will save me a trip to Bangkok if he can.

Thanks for the info.

Does anyone know a place where I can replace my re-chargable battey for my Phillips (Norelco) shaver in Pattaya.

I know that electric shavers are not popular in Thailand so I think it will propably be hard to find a repair shop to replace my re-chargable battery.

We visited so many Honda, Mazda, Toyota and Nissan dealers that I had to actually keep a journal to remember the details. We accidentally stumbled upon a Nissan dealer on the North end of Phahon Yothin past the Royal Thai Air Force. My wife and I were treated with kindness and respect by Siam Nissan Mahanakorn near Phahon Yothin 25. May, the salesperson, along with the Finance Manager, Sukit, and Nok, the Bank Representative did there absolute best to speak clear and understandable English. (They did not, I repeat they did not, play the speak Thai to her and English to him game.)

I made it clear to them we only wanted the least expensive Nissan March model with manual transmission. We were told by every dealer it would take more than one month but they could not be sure. After having this same conversation with May on Sunday she looked me in the eye and said no problem. We can have the car two days after your finance is approved with the bank. She said that would be Wednesday and the car will be ready Friday at 17:00. We get a call from May on Wednesday saying that everything is approved and the car will be ready at 15:00, not 17:00, on Friday.

We arrive at 15:00 on Friday as planned. The car was ready and waiting for us in the staging area. May, the salesperson, and Raywat, the Service Manager, spoke English to us and went over every detail about the car, the warranty and the maintenance schedule. They made sure both my wife and I understand everything. They even asked permission to explain a couple of things in Thai to my wife that she did not fully understand.

We can whole heartedly recommend May and the guys at Siam Nissan Mahanakorn. I will keep you posted on our future experiences with the service team.

I called the number given for this dealership and I received a message that the number was not in service. Closed due to the floods?

The Nissan dealership in Pattaya told me the wait for a new car, March and Almera, would be a least three months. Very surprised to hear that this dealership can deliver this car in two days. Any idea why this dealship has cars and the other Nissan dealerships have no cars?

I checked the web site of NFL rewind and it stated that games played on Sunday will be posted after the Sunday Night game. This means that the games played on Sunday afternoon will be available in less than 12 hours after they were played. Not a bad deal for $40.

Anybody have a suggestion regarding a good program to use to get a proxy IP address to access NFL rewind in Thailand?