khunPer

everybody is overestimating the impact of tourism look at the GDP figures and you will see that industry is the biggest and farming is still much bigger than tourism, so what a few percent in tourism is nothing against the loss of trust of the money people fleeing the BHT, right now the BHT is cheeper than ever and for me living here i am profiting

Right about industry and farming, tourism is somewhere around 10%, about same as for example hard discs and computer accessories contribute with.

So it's not only my GF – started to get both irritated and worried, and thinking about replacement – so thanks to the OP for sharing this important information, explaining it's a general problem. A new GF will then be “same, same – but different”, so just I keep the one I already get used to.

The demand merely shows that there is a need...

If you are not investor or partner in the business I would give it second thoughts. Some of the above replies about liability may be valid reasons.

Many Thanks to everyone who took the time to reply to me. My wife has now lived in Glasgow for 7 years. I've not been over in Thailand since April '08, although my wife went Thai every year, visiting family.

Although I do not need to sell our Glasgow flat( which is in my name only), to get the finance to satisfy the Thai powers that be, I want to make a clean break and move to Thailand. I'm '' going thro' the motions '' now living in the U.K., I want away. I've lived in a city for 63 years, and I honestly look forward to a quieter village life.

My health is fairly good, The village outside Chaiya Phum has quite a few ex-pats, so I'll '' not be stuck ''. I also want to travel around Thailand a little bit.

,My wife owns land in the village, and my intention is to build a nice home, get a set of wheels, and generally relax and see out my days in the sun.

I'm certainly '' taking on board '' all the advice you're giving me, and will continue to do so.

Can you please fully explain '' THE CHANOTE DEED '' , also the '' 30 YEAR PREPAID LEASE ''.

What is an O/A visa? a non-immigrant '' O '' visa? etc.... it's a wee bit of a '' mine-field '' to me, all the various visas.

Re finance, I'm with Barclays in Glasgow and my intension is to get a letter of introduction from Glasgow and open an A/C with Barclays in Bangkok.

I've some cash in my Bangkok Bank A/C, and my wife also banks with Bangkok Bank..Do Barclays and Bangkok bank '' link '' in Thailand?

My intention is to use internet banking, moving money from Glasgow as reqd.??? I've a small private monthly pension that pays into my Glasgow A/c. Please advice re. what's best for me.

How do I go about getting my state pension when I'm 65?

Does anyone know where the nearest Immigration Office is to Chaiya Phum?

I'll be making a Thai Will as a priority.

Once again, Many Thanks for your continuing advice and help.

Malagateddy, may I kindly advice you to get hold on the book “Retiring in Thailand” by Sunisa Wongdee Terlecky & Philip Bryce, Paiboon Publishinh, ISBN 9781887521796. You can probably buy it from Amazon, else you can try info at www.paiboonpublishing.com. That book may answer at lot of questions, including leasing and building a house.

Another interesting book by Philip Bryce, if you are going to build a house, is “How to Buy Land and Buils a House in Thailand”, also Paiboon, ISBN 1-887521-71-2.

As I’m not from Britain, but Denmark, I can only give input and inspiration for some of your questions.

Chanote & Lease:

There are many levels of Deeds in Thailand, the top level being Chanote. With that paper you (or rather your wife) owns the land. Any lease longer than 3 years have to be registered at the Land Department to be legal, and no lease longer than 30 years can be registered. When a lease is registered a tax (I think it’s 1 per cent) of the whole leasing income shall be paid. Another option is Usufruct, which gives you the right to use the land as long as you live. No tax and only a small fee (some few hundred baht) have to be paid at the Land Department when registered on the deed. Many deed in villages are not Chanote, but of lower state (by time all may be upgraded to Chanote) where land for example can only be transferred within a family – however I think you may still be able to make Lease Agreement or Usufruct .

The reason for making a lease contract or Usufruct is to protect your investment in worst-case scenario. You can own a house, but not the land, however you will not receive any kind of documentation of ownership if you are the builder of the house. In that case you shall make sure your name is on the architect drawings and your name is on the building permission from the Amphor (Government district office). Furthermore you shall keep all bills and money transfers as well, best if all are issued with your name on. However protecting investment in a house in wife’s village may not include, that you wish to stay there close to ex-family, should something go wrong. The books I’ve mentioned gives you more details and there are also some treads at this Forum about it, with lots of comment with various views.

Bank:

I use Bangkok Bank, easy to open an account. I transfer money from my Danish bank to Bangkok Bank via my Internet Banking, which is both cheap and fast (fixed fee around 4 GBP and 3 to 4 banking days). I pay only Danish bank fee and forward all other fees to the receiving bank (Bangkok Bank), as they will always deduct some small fees (a few hundred bath on for example 50k bath). Some recommend other banks, for example it has been said that Kasikorn Bank has a slightly better exchange rate, but one day longer transfer time. I always transfer in my home country currency, as you may get a better exchange rate from the Thai bank than in your home bank. If your are going to transfer larger amounts (equivalent to 20,000 USD or more), for example when building a house, always ask you Thai bank for a form to have it registered, as you may be able to transfer the same amount of Thailand again, should that be ever be needed.

Will:

If you have left any assets behind in Britain, you will need a British will to deal with that. It is recommended to make a Thai will for your Thai assets only, that is quite good described in the book “Thai Law for Foreigners” (page 77-86) by the Thai lawers Benjawan Poomsan Becker & Roengsak Thongkaew, Paiboon, ISB 978-1-887521-57-4. You don’t need a lawyer to make a legal Thai will. There may also be informative treads about it at this Forum.

Wish you good luck in LOS.

I stated value myself (se my previous post) including some hifi-stuff (only speakers high-end), musical instruments (tube amp, speaker box, Hammond organ, Leslie, harpsichord)

Hammond organ, Leslie, harpsichord... That is some packing list! I was looking into the logistics of importing (personal use) guitars and audio gear and was quite discouraged about what I read (on TV mostly) about the potential disastrous pitfalls of moving expensive equipment in (and out) of Thailand. The forum searches I did in the past yielded a fair few horror stories.

Hope all goes smoothly for anyone going through with the big move.

Can unfortunately not contribute to the arsenal of “horror stories” – everything was fine service and done easily with my shipping of 20ft container.

Cannot imagine how roof tiles be hung from such a batten. Seems more like for kilp-lok metal roof sheets.

Look excactly like the galvanized battens from Cement Thai – I have them (or similar) under my roof tiles.

I wish you welcomed to LOS and good luck.

I made an early retirement here almost eight years ago, after many visits and been trying to staying for longer periods.

A non-immigrant O Visa single or multiple entries will do it. If you can afford it, I agree with above posters about using the retirement visa extension, as it is simpler than visa extension based on marriage. Best is to keep 800k bath in a fixed savings account (your name only) all the time, where you can obtain a high interest (typically 2½ to 3 pa).

The first few month you may be covered by a travel insurance, but when applying for retirement or marriage visa extension after approximately three month you need to consider a health & PA insurance and/or back-up saving for both health and unforeseen expenses. Furthermore you may need a Thai driver license if you are driving a vehicle.

I fully agree with posters recommending you to rent a home for some time before investing in property; unless of course you already are very familiar with the area you wish to settle in and have some idea of what you want, and of course know the risks about investing in land & house in Thailand. Property may be in your wife’s name (at least the land, you can own the house only). There are ways you can secure you interest to some degree.

There has recently been a thread in this Forum about moving households in a container from Britain, which may be of interest for you:

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/679878-shipping-a-container-to-los-from-uk/

If any questions come up I am sure the Forum members who has already done the move will be happy to assist you.

Camphor and menthol; relieves pain, relives itching, anti bacterial etc. etc.
Tiger Balm helps or relief in a lot of cases.

I remember from Isaan houses with steel plate roof, that ir cracks every morning when heated up by sun, and again every evening when it begins to get cold. Most likely the steel construction in your house.

The thing is that I don't have a steel plate roof, but Ceris clay tiles instead

Yes, I know from your post. I am referring to your steel construction under your roof plates. Sorry, I could have stated it more clearly.

The steel roof plate (or metal sheet of some kind of iron-alloy or aluminium) I talk about are placed on wood bearings, but the plates make noise. Can perhaps be both your steel construction and the roof tiles making noise, when the steel expands a little.

Think when constructions expand, it's like something (fittings or...) are holding it back, until the point where the expanding force is the strongest, resulting in a tiny movement and thereby the crack sound. You can experience the same with cliffs/stones in a dessert; and more domestic in older house's central heating system when a timer is placed on the circulation pump; when the pump starts (or stops) the whole house cracks due the metal pipe's expansion.

To be honest, I was pulling your leg a little with my remark, I understood what you wanted to say.

I also understand what you are saying in your post above, and I experience those sounds during the morning till about midday and in the night time, they have just started , but that are actually low noises like someone with a very small hammer is ticking on the wall . I hear them also repeatedly for a few hours in a certain room with intervals of maybe an hour between

The one that happens early morning, and actually happens only once is like someone gives a serious knock with a normal sized hammer , and is heard throughout the house.

Do you think the sounds that you are referring to can be that loud in certain situations ?

It's getting cold now at night in some areas and stone/concrete keeps temperature for quite some time – warm from day, cool from night – which may effect the steel and cause some delay and/or variation in sound during the year. However I am not at all an expert in theese fields, so I better rest – just mentioned what I have noticed up Isaan and other places (fx. cold Denmark; and the pipe sounds could be very loud, sometimes more like a bang than a serie of cracks).

I live further south with nearly no temperature difference between day and night, and almost same temperature round the year, so I never hear any noise (of that kind) in my new house (3 years old); concrete with steel roof construction and cement-type roof tiles.

I saw one suggested ghost in a post – which make me think of an often recommended Thai-way of solving a problem – have you got Spirit Houses and moved the spirits to their (new) home in a proper way?

The Oriental may be the most storied and famous, but I believe a great experience can be had at the Shangra-la or even the Royal Orchid Sheraton at a lesser price. I satisfy my Oriental fix by having an afternoon tea on the restaurant deck, riverside.

Spent 10 days at the Sheridan Royal Orchid back in 1987. First stayed 4 days, went to Chang Mai, came back to Royal Orchid. Since we were a returning guest they upgraded us to suite for 6 days that must have been 1500 square feet. I will never forget it. Great time, but they would not let my wife and I bring a girl back to the room. Would have been a great night. Had to get a short time room instead.

I see some disadvantage staying at 5-star hotel...

I remember from Isaan houses with steel plate roof, that ir cracks every morning when heated up by sun, and again every evening when it begins to get cold. Most likely the steel construction in your house.

The thing is that I don't have a steel plate roof, but Ceris clay tiles instead

Yes, I know from your post. I am referring to your steel construction under your roof plates. Sorry, I could have stated it more clearly.

The steel roof plate (or metal sheet of some kind of iron-alloy or aluminium) I talk about are placed on wood bearings, but the plates make noise. Can perhaps be both your steel construction and the roof tiles making noise, when the steel expands a little.

Think when constructions expand, it's like something (fittings or...) are holding it back, until the point where the expanding force is the strongest, resulting in a tiny movement and thereby the crack sound. You can experience the same with cliffs/stones in a dessert; and more domestic in older house's central heating system when a timer is placed on the circulation pump; when the pump starts (or stops) the whole house cracks due the metal pipe's expansion.

I remember from Isaan houses with steel plate roof, that ir cracks every morning when heated up by sun, and again every evening when it begins to get cold. Most likely the steel construction in your house.

Although it's not going to be for a few months and I'll probably change my mind before then, I'm gonna settle with a 5* costing about $100 but stay for 2 nights rather than somewhere asking for $500 a night. VIE Bangkok Hotel is high on the list. Only $115 a night and really good reviews on TripAdvisor.

You asked in the OP for »...the best 5 star hotel in Thailand for one night just for the experience.«

I presume you can find a nice hotel for $100, but definitely not “the best 5 star hotel in Thailand.”

A great experience may be to check Baiyoke Sky, they often have some good 2-nite bargins at their website, and if you can afford the so-called “Space Zone” you will be up about 250 meter over Bangkok with an outstanding view. Their room-rate often include cash vouchers to be spent in their restaurants; they have nice buffet restaurants at the very top floors and using the cash voucher an outstanding dinner will be affordable.

The best in the World used to be “Oriental” in Bangkok, but I think that was in the past (25 years ago).

Awarded as the best hotel in World now is “Six Senses” at Koh Samui.

Other top ranges may be one from the “Four Seasons” chain.

Do expect to pay 100k baht and up for one night.

It's getting better

a little better

all the time...

I speak a fair amount of Thai, self taught. It is much harder than Indonesian, which I also learned while living there. To me it is a sign of respect to learn the local language, plus you are less at the mercy of those Thai who have learned English. Conversations with Thais who are not in some sort of business relationship requiring English can be refreshing. I have not yet learned to read Thai, which is not easy. Generally the words areallruntogetherlikethis which can compound the difficulty. However. to condemn those who don't or haven't learned Thai does smack of some sort of "I'm better than you" mentality. We put our energy where our interests lie, plain and simple.

Reading Thai is a lot easier than trying to speak it.

The words flowing together is not a problem.

Interesting – thanks – may be a way to lern...

TechDance…!

“OH - The main reason Santa is so jolly is because he knows where all the bad girls live ... ”

True – saw Santa on the beach today...

The public school standard may depend on where in Thailand you live/stay. I’ve seen village schools that would definitely not be an option (if I stayed in an Isaan village) and I’ve seen public schools that might be a possibility (where I stay).

My daughter (half Thai, but only Thai national) went about one year to a Thai kindergarten, more like kind of nursery, I think we paid 4k a month. Very kind “teachers” and lots of funny activities plus some little bit learning of numbers, Thai and Roman characters as preparation for school. We never opted for a Thai public school, as long as we can afford to choose a better private – however International based on mainly British standard were neither an option, as we plan our future in Thailand – so we found a good local Thai school with English programme. About Half the teachers is native English speaking. Three levels of preschool (kindergarten classes) and now in primary 2. We have been very satisfied with the school and only hear the same from other foreign or mixed-couple parents – I think there is a Thai-Thai majority about 2:1. The cost is 60k/term (120k/year) plus little extra for uniforms, some books and this-and-that, perhaps some 10k/year (school-bus is an option we don’t need to use, that will be extra cost as well). Compared with other kids attending the local public schools, I feel we got good value for the money.

I think that the first years in school, including preschool, were the kids easily adapt and learn, are very important. I do not know what our possibilities will be for middle and high, depends of there is a local or fairly close private school available, the quality and the price, but it seems like were we live the public schools for that levels are fairly okay, so that might be an option – may also depends of how our kid develops and if we can get any real impression of her own future interests. Time may change my view, also about International school.

So my answer to OP will be: With a six-year-old beginning in primary, I would definitely choose among the best available schools, even it may cost around 100k (or more) a year, as the first years learning may well be the most important.