pluto_manibo

Great! Where did you download the application forms from?

Learn how to sail! Buy a boat! Travel the world!

LOL. You must be a very old man in your eighties and still living in the past. 10m baht is hardly a huge amount today, can at best buy a cramped 60sqm condo close to a bts/mrt in midtown bangkok. And you think he can buy a luxury yacht and sail around the world for the rest of his life!!

Sure, 10 million will not last very long. The OP also seemed to be looking for new motivations, intelectual challenges and something to occupy him. A boat will definetely cure you of your boredom(and deplete a large chunk of your finances!!!). However, buying a boat you have a house on you own name, which you can travel with and make money with. You can charter your boat out for cruises, dives, island hops etc...You will also pick up a lot of skills. Navigational, mechanical, sail repairs etc.This can also be a source of revenue and chance at meeting like minded people.My age, finances and the "luxury yacht" were never mentioned. Just a figment of your overactive arrogance and imagination.

edit-question answered in above post

Learn how to sail! Buy a boat! Travel the world!

Is it still possible to get the approved Passport photos taken opposite the Netherlands embassy on Soi Tonson? If not, where are the nearest places that can take the approved passport photos? Thank you.

You should absolutely file a report at the police station. Do not be discouraged but be persistent! Spitting is regarded as an assault, verbal abuse is also a form of aggression. These factors plus the fact he wanted to grab your dog, definitely warrant for a report. Be very careful of leaving your dog alone in the yard or anywhere. These sub-species are prone to leaving poisoned treats or meat around to kill your dog. A report will also establish a history of events and evidence in case things escalate. Remain calm and polite but firm, and preferably bring someone who can speak Thai eloquently and get the point across. Good luck!

Watsons'in Central Festival has a promotion for Banana boat at 50% discount (I think 264 baht a tube).

The Model is a " Master" A5 unit. Have not installed it yet! Awaiting replies, as I am not sure if it can be installed after the water pump. Worried about losing a lot of water pressure. On the company diagrams it positions the Softener filter: well/submersible pump--->Softener filter--->storage tank---> water pump--->house. Since this would be really difficult and costly to do in our situation, the engineer stated that placing the Softener between the water pump and house, would not be an issue. If it is not an issue, why don't they show this in the company brochures or state that both options are viable. I am a complete novice in regards to water softeners. Is either positioning an option? Which one is the "correct" way to do it?

We source our water from an underground well which feeds into an underground storage tank. This then goes through a water pump into the house. Due to extremely hard water which destroys all faucets and outlets, we are installing a water softener filter. The problem lies in that to set it up between the in ground pump and storage tank, a lot of digging up of concrete would be done. The representative of the water softener company, assured us that the water softener filter could be installed after the water pump into the house. Therefore submersible pump--->storage tank---->water pump----->water softener filter--->faucet/shower etc.... I am not familiar with water softener systems, apart from a slight loss of pressure...are there any other hasards from this set up?

Which of the two border points is the most hassle free/ fastest/least crowded? Pakkad or Ban Laem? Thank you.

Yes, attitudes have changed for the worse. If you live a secluded life and limit interaction with the outside world or through your significant other, then you might not see it. If you immerse yourself in daily local living and interact with your environment, you will definitely see the changes. However, I find that most incidents happened from people who didn't know I spoke Thai and judged me by physical appearances only(white/European). Speaking the language moderately well, after twenty years here, has been a double edged sword. Thais are not shy in sharing their contempt and prejudices, when they assume you will not understand anything. But, it has smoothed out many difficult situations as well.

In the last week I have been the victim of drug fuelled road rage. Had my life threatened, insulted and car damaged for no apparent reason by two young men who were dead set on maiming a foreigner. There was a motorcycle parked in the middle of a small alley and we could not get through, the perpetrators behind us and from an ajoining building came to the open window threateningly, insulted me and then rammed their rusted up sidecar into my vehicle, damaging it. They then proceeded to insult and comeforth violently to pull me out the vehicle. They didn't take time to notice that some people where moving the parked motorbike from the road in front of us and we could not get through..this shocked the people witnessing the incident and traumatised my wife. I have been victim of this before and the only thing to do is to step/drive away from the situation calmly, reassuring them in Thai( this put them off guard and they retreated) that they misunderstood the situation( meanwhile swallowing your pride, the injustice, aggression and damages). Other incidents in the last weeks, have been riding a motorbike from/to the Chonburi Dept. of Motor Vehicles from Pattaya. It seems people deliberately want to push you off the road and knock you off your bike on several occasions, when they realise it is a foreigner riding.

Maybe this is due to the mass influx of tourists coming into the country. We are all seen as one entity, regardless of where we are from and how long we stay here. We must all suffer for the transgressions of others maybe? I have respect and courtesy to all people around me, regardless of their social or economical background. I wish the same could be extended reciprocally. We are all just spacedust!

Well done! Congratulations on your new lease on life!

I second that, avoid the Laminate(@ 1100 baht/m2). I used it in a recording studio and between the spilled drinks and dog "accidents", the floor is warped, buckled and disjointed in those areas. However, they do have a new laminate which is waterproof. Their display model in the stores, shows a continuous stream of water flowing over the laminate. They use it for bathrooms as well.

Bumblefoot is one of three guitarists in what is now known as Guns n' Roses. The only original band member left in Guns n' Roses is Axl Rose. All the others, are although technically proficient, replacements and session players. Ron"Bumblefoot"Thal, is a guitarists' guitarist, a teacher who is highly technically skilled. All the songs that people will recognise as Guns n' Roses, where played on by the original guitarists Slash and Izzy Stradlin( later to be replaced by Gilby Clarke). Izzy left in 1992 and Slash left in 1996. Guns n' Roses under its' current line-up are still touring and promoting their last album, Chinese Democracy. Slash is releasing solo albums with his solo band, which played in Bangkok in 2011. What a show that was!

I usally go out every 3 months and make a trip out of it. However this time, I will need to do a visa run and would like to go out and back in through Ban Laem or Pakkad. I used to do this many years ago but have not been back there in a while. Is it still possible to do a same day in/out crossing for Non-O visa holders? Thank you.

Famous last words - I went the company route in buying a house. Of course I worry about the various crackdowns imminent during the last 7 years. I console myself that: there are thousands of Thai lawyers setting up these bogus companies and a similar number of Thai auditors who 'do the books' for these companies annually. By closing this loophole ((m)illions of baht would not be spent.

Renting a 3 bedroom/2 bathroom house with garden would cost 25K monthly? 7 years x 12 months = 84 = 2.1 million baht less village fees of 18K x 7= 126,000. Amount saved against rent money = 1.974 million. Auditor costs = 70,000 over 7 years reduces that figure.

When I bought the house UK pound was at 73 baht. Now it's 49. If I sold it for 3 million (current prices of houses on my estate = 4 million) I would be quids in.

Twelve yrs, got my chips back in regards to rent as well. However would like to ugrade and move, it doesn't seem likely now. Just got back from the lawyers and to put it bluntly, you have no rights and every option can result in a painful outcome in court. Leases, usufruct can be contested. Superficies in the Pattaya area are not recognised. The company route requires proof of funds for all Thai shareholders. A proposed option was to register as a full Thai company, therefore bypassing the investigation of foreign limited companies, acquire the property and be instated as "director" after the purchase. Not for me, thank you very much.

The options seem to be;

1. Company set up to acquire land/house- This has become very controversial, the doom of a crackdown on companies run by foreigners for the sole purpose of owning land, are now subject to government inspections and scrutiny. New guidelines have been implemented to check source of funds of all shareholders in foreign run/ non trading companies.

2. Buy on wife's name ; Land office asks the farang husband to sign a form that he has no claim whatsoever to the land and that the property does not fall under "Sin somros"(joint married/communal) assets. However,(in theory?) in case of divorce, the court overrules this and does not acknowledge this form. The court rules it is under "Sin Somros" assets and in case of divorce, the property is to be divided equally 50/50.(Is this true?)

3. 30 yr lease, usufruct or superficies- The landowner(wife), can lease the land to the foreign husband for 30 yrs or amend a usufruct clause(where the usufructee (farang) can use the land until his demise). Superficies- from what I understand this is when Land and building are owned separately. ie: land by the Thai person and building by the foreign repugnant entity..

We have all heard of numerous crackdowns throughout the years, however things are moving forward to clampdown on the company option. Implementations and interpretation of the law varies in all provinces. What is accepted in one is not in another ie; usufruct and superficies. The 30 yr lease option can also be disputed in courts, if it has been done between husband and wife...under the presumption that contracts are not valid in a married couple. In the eyes of the law, a married couple is regarded as one entity. Therefore according to several sources, in a worst case scenario, the land owner can void the lease agreement.

In conclusion, there seems to be no pro's and all cons in somewhat securing your financial contribution. Are these assumptions correct?

Not in Pattaya but close: Had Mae Rampung and Mae Phim area.

Yes, all is back to normal for now.

I am also in the same predicament. After 20 yrs in Thailand, places change and people change....not bad not good....just different. In South East Asia, nothing beats Thailand though. This last year I have been bouncing back and forth between Bali and Thailand on Surf trips....and I appreciate Bali but do not see the attraction apart from the Surf (which is way too crowded), after having contracted Chikungunya( which put me out of action for a few months) I do not care much for their medical facilities and extortionate prices, pollution, traffic etc.... Therefore I am also looking for a second home, tax friendly and Surf friendly....Costa Rica and Portugal were my top choices. S.Africa was a contender until I read more into it, shame really because it is a beautiful country. Funny, people speaking of Naples, Florida. I grew up there when we moved to the States, from '81-85...never went back but life was fantastic as a child back there. I think Sri Lanka and a few Sumatran Islands North of Nias will pick up in the coming years as a Surf/holiday destination. In regards to S. America, maybe Uruguay. Very interesting topic!

Yes, installed it. Problem developed before the update and again after.

I have deleted all my accounts on apple mail and re installed them (yahoo,gmail, hotmail), after having trouble sending emails due to stmp server errors. It worked for the first 10 mins and now back to "stmp servers offline" again, can not send emails! This never happened before. I use Yosemite, which is up to date. Thank you.

I found Kata Noi to be better than Kata itself. Kata is way too crowded with Russians renting pointed shortboards and zero skills. Karon can be ok and Nai Harn has its moments. Khao Lak has mellow 2-4ft waves which do not close out as fast as Phuket....good for Longboards. On the Eastern Seaboard, Hat Mae Rampung(Rayong area) can get some but this year not a lot. This of course happens during the Rainy season from End of April until right about now. Its' hit and miss, as stated in a previous post, if you want quality Surf go to Indo, Sri Lanka, Maldives, Philippines.

I remember when the only reason to go to soi 8, was to go to Immigration.

Foodland cafeteria counter!