khunPer

You can own a condo if 51% of the condo owners in the building are Thais; i.e. your condo is within the 49% quota that is allowed for foreigners. It woeks same way as shareholders in a Thai company limited.

I think that "The Man with the Golden Gun" movie is so yesterday now that nobody cares anymore, young folks don't know the film and would likely be extremely disappointed if they did...

I played songkran without sun protection – wet and didn't feel the burning thing up there above the fluffy white things – however, I'm extremely disappointed that all my sufferings didn't make it to the news...

Land-of-Smiles might be modest, here is the to me known Thai gender list (quote)... (Straight) Male A man who likes women. (Straight) Female A woman who likes men. Tom (Tomboy) A woman who dresses like a man and likes women or Dees. Dee A woman who likes manly women or Toms. Tom Gay A woman who likes women, Toms, and Dees. Tom Gay King A manly Tom who likes Toms. Bi(sexual) A woman who likes bisexuals, Toms, lesbians, and men. Boat A man who likes women, Gay Kings, and Gay Queens (does not include Ladyboys). Gay Queen A womanly man who likes men. Gay King A manly man who likes men. Tom Gay Two-Way A Tom who can be both a Tom Gay King or Tom Gay Queen. Tom Gay Queen A womanly Tom who likes Toms. Lesbian A woman who likes women. Kathoey/Ladyboy A man who wants to be a woman. Adam A man who likes Toms. Angee A Kathoey who likes Toms. Cherry A woman who likes gay men and Kathoey (Ladyboys). Samyaan A woman who likes Toms, lesbians, and women, and can also be any of them.”

Now, my reply was quite personal. However, sure, there is something like 18 possible amazing genders in all kind of rainbow-colours...

As always, there are a lot of factors to consider when "investing" in property, especially if you are looking for gain rather than a home. Thailand might not be the ideal place for property as gain investment, especially in the more affordable end of the market. In general the saying in Thailand is that a building lose value over time – being used and become old – while the land under the building gain value.

Actually more than one lawyer suggesting it – are you a Thai lawyer?...

"Best things about Thailand"... Girls, girls, girls...

What I refers to is however the lawyer-method, I never had to use it myself, but my lawyer advised me about it – and yes, after the law was tightened concerning nominee shareholders – and yes, you need an experienced lawyer with knowledge in both company set-up and property registration to handle it...

Friday 4th July and Saturday 5th July by Chaweng Lake, 13th anniversary of Alternative Rhythm Riders... Charity for: Purchase medical equipment for Koh Samui Hospital, rescue workers in Koh Samui area and promote tourism on Koh Samui... Admission ticket without charity t-shirt: 350 baht. Entrance to the concerts through the pirate ship that is built by the lake...

First thing always to remember is the old saying that runs something like: "To make a small fortune in Thailand, you need to begin with a big fortune". There are of course several successful businesses with foreign ownership, but there are also many small businesses that gives up – and some investors that lose (all) their savings. To establish a company at present you'll need 2 shareholders and minimum 51% owned by Thais. You cannot use nominees, the Thai shareholders might be asked to prove that they have their own funds for the investment. According to lawyers you can control the company by using preferred shares, where the foreign shareholder(s) owns a number of preferred shares with 10 votes per share, while the Thai shareholders owns normal shares with one vote per share. Another method can be that a Thai shareholder has preferred shares with no voting rights, but instead a guranteed dividend payout of for example 4% of the nominal amount of the shares. Both methods might let you gain voting control over the company. In short, you need to find one or more Thai business partners that can legally afford to invest in your company. When a company buys land, some land offices will only accept 39% foreign ownership. If you have 49% foreignownership, this can often be arrenged by temporary transferring 10% of the shares to Thais, and then revert the shares after land title deed is registed. Another possibility is to lease land on 30-years agreement. There is no such ting as 30+30 or more years, or 3+3+3 years' rental agreements. When renting land for more than 3 years it need to be registered on the title deed in the land office and a tax of 1% of the total agreed lease sum for the whole period shall be paid. For one working permit for a foreigner you'll need a company capital of not less than 2 million baht and 4 Thai employees. You cannot expect to be a tour guide, this work is reserved for Thais. In general a foreigner can only perform management jobs and jobs requiring special skills. Russians and other foreigners might run a business on the edge of the law or in a gray-zone – it might cost them some fees for cookies in some tea money boxes – now and then you can read in the news about these illegal business getting closed by authorities. The benefit of moving one's savings – or part of it – to Thailand is that you are free from currency exchange rate fluctations. However, it's difficult to gain a reasonable profit or interest. The Thai equity market lives a kind of it's own life, only partly affected by the the World market. It might be a good time to invest, as the stock prices has gone down during the past few years and are low know – but bear in mind, they can fall to an even lower value, if foreign stock investers continue to money of out. However, a number of large well-run Thai companies can in average give you a paid dividend around 4% per year after withheld dividend tax. 4% is the average hand rule of what you gain when not into (very) high risk investments. Establishing a business in Thailand I will consider as high risk. You really need to do your home work of demand for a kind of business, rather than outliving a dream of what you wish to do, or what would be nice to do. 4% dividend from a good 6-figure savings – which depends of which currency the six-figures are in – might be more safe than opening a business. You might also find more fun to enjoy your life when not running a company in a foreign country with different rules than you might be used to. For your info: I have – i.e., 49% ownership – a Thai company limited that owns a n umber of land plots, which are rented out; furthermore the company has some othe activities. I'm only a shareholder and board member – director – while dauly managment is a Thai. Furthermore I have private investmen ts in SET-equity – SET is short for Stock Exchange of Thailand – that gives me the around 4% dividend, which adds some extra to my retirement pension and savings from abroand. So, I fully enjoy my life in "Paradise"...😎

Sad, really sad, but same old story...

I know, but the problem is not the transformer from high voltage to low voltage, the problem is a broken low voltage cable/line. In my case salty corrosion in a connection on the line by the beachfront.

To my knowledge neutral is grounded on every second mast. Both remaining phases worked perfect as 220 volt supply.

Thanks for the hint, that might be useful for some on Samui. My three phases on a good day with sunshine and tailwind... On a bad rainy day with headwind the voltage can be as low as around 90 – the lowest I've seen – and up to over 300... Voltage can even shift rapidly... I use a few automatic voltage stabilizers and numerous UPS units to protect sensitive electronic equipment, which so far probably have saved lots of electronic lifes from fatal electrocution...