tuktukmike

Horses for courses as they say. when is the 7million factory update finished?

All in Hua Hin is very good but more for the German market as you know. but do stock some good cheeses.

Still awaiting news of Villa Supermarket opening, this should make a real difference to the town as the meats are top draw.

Tesco are good for Hams Chicken and Pork and are improving on the red meats, When we spoke to Tesco in BKK they did say that all stores will soon be stocking more Farang friendly products in the near future. of course we have carrefour opening at some time and now we also have Makro opening in Pranburi.

There will be a lot of changes here in the near future me thinks.

Mike.

One of the best run companies doing this is Owners Abroad Thailand.

They do the lot including pool/garden care and maintainence.

The tel no is +66 (0) 32 516695

The guy who runs it takes real good care of your asset.

Mike.

Take your time and have a good look around, its a buyers market at present.

Despite what agents say they are falling over themselves for sales at present, Hua Hin has just had its quietest period since the Tsunami,

Get good legal advice from an international company in Bangkok before you do anything unless you have a Thai partner. even then still seek real legal advice.

Prices for land here are a minefield, they will charge whatever they think they will get away with but over the hill you can still get some good deals.

Mike.

Hi Manou

You will be fine on that visa,

As long as you are not employed out here or earning money in thailand there will be no problem.

Do your work online at home and enjoy.

There is a glut of property here at present to rent so take your time and look around for the best deal.

If you have any problems give me a pm and i will help you find a place at the right price.

As said internet is no problem (not for me anyway). not as fast as they claim but does the job.

Mike.

For the very best Sausages/Bacon/Pies you cant beat the Cottage Kitchen.

You can buy their products direct or the old shopping mall and at Okey supermarket in Cha Am.

They also stock,

Bovril

OXO

Marmite

Branston pickle

Colemans sauces

Mint sauce

Pickled onions/eggs

Various English brand teas.

And coming soon

Kp Nuts (various)

Ambrosia creamed rice/custard

Heinz baked beans

Branston baked beans

Peas processed/garden

Lloyd Grossman sauces

Xmas puds

Too much more to list.

And FDA approved.

Quote

I must admit I am a little bemused by all this anti-agent sentiment. Would you buy in your own country without an agent?

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

You bet your life I would and have many times, and have saved myself a fortune in the process.

In the UK now most buyers have an info pack when they sell which does help.

As said the problems here are that anyone can and will open an agents office with no prior knowledge.

This always brings a smile to my face,

I checked out a few condo developments today and from what the agents are saying and the people at the developments (off-plan they call them, right?...they aren't finished) they are selling out rapidly and they wont budge on the price...in fact they say they'll continue to raise the prices as completion comes closer.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Off plan, this may work very well in the west. But beware as many developers try and sell this way if they do not have the funds themselves to complete the build.

The term they do not like is PYRAMID selling.

Many developers here sell this way and all you see is an artists impression, to date I have yet to see any development that has looked what was promised.

You can also find yourself waiting more than 18months or more than planned for your development to be finished.

Why would anyone buy somthing off plan when there are plenty of finished condos here.

I also agree with the earlier post, go direct not through and agent.

I really have to dissagree with the comments by the 1 RAI poster.

Quote,

although they haven't really made any decision on this after the World Trade Organisation told them that doing that would be illegal and may instigate sanctions on Thailand,

I am sure this is not the case from what I have read in various news reports, take a look below.

Is the amendment in violation of Thailand’s international obligations?

The proposed amendments do not violate any of Thailand’s international obligations,

including those under WTO. This is self-evident with regards to the amendment of the

punishment terms and the attached Lists.

The amendment to introduce voting rights as criterion for determining the nationality

of a company is consistent with Thailand’s obligations under the WTO Agreement and other

treaties to which Thailand is party. As far as the WTO is concerned, the definition of ‘foreign

service supplier’ is part of domestic regulation, an area in which Members have flexibility.

Moreover, the definition as amended is more in keeping with the definition of ‘juridical

person’ under Article XXVIII of the GATS.

As an investment a Condo as people like to call them (Flat/Apartment in my book) is possably the only worthwhile investment.

There is huge oversupply here since the new FBA intentions were announced, you can not sell your house at present as there are no Buyers.

I know a small developer who can not sell the properties he has and countless others that have had their property on the market for ages.

There is also rumour of another large estate agent going to the wall.

The Market Village has also suffered due to a very very low season with several shops already closed, maybe also due to the high rents imposed there.

There is of course a cinema with thai language films and of course ten pin bowling but unfortunatly this is called Boutique bowling, around 8 Short lanes and ideally for children.

Hua Hin beach has rocks and is far from clean, so yesterday we went to kao takiab beach.

The water had sewage floating on the surface, plus of course the idiots on the Jet Skis who find amusment dodging the swimmers.

So my thoughts would be, rent for at least a year in wherever you are considering buying and get a feel for the place first.

This subject has come up many times on other forums.

From experiance I have seen in Hua Hin, dont bother.

If you put the house in your childs name remember your wife as gaurdian can still do as she wishes with the property until the child comes of age.

If your wife is thai why not put in her name!!!!!

One guy got burned badly going through this route, not as safe as he thought,

Mike.

Hi NR

After the help you gave us I do intend to help in some way, I also dont know where your centre is.

I will check out all our cupboards for bedding,

Mike.

We moved to Hua Hin 3 years ago and by chance were adopted by a dog that lived outside 7/11.

We called her Buiscuit which then turned into Sabai, one of her front legs were withered due to being hit by a vehicle when she was a pup. All the Thais in our soi adored her mainly due to the way she was such a happy little dog despite her handicapp.

Yesterday she was run over and killed by a speeding pick-up, this of course devastated me and my wife.

We called the local vet only to be told that dogs just go out with the rubbish, we just could not handle this thought.

At our wits end we contacted NR and I honestly cant thank her enough, she has arranged for our pride and joy to be buried on a friend of hers land.

Words cant begin to explain my thanks to NR.

Mike & Mo.

Got to agree with goldfish on this one.

If you have had the valves replaced i doubt that the new ones were ground in, thus losing compression.

Also are you sure that the valve timing is not now out, this happened to my yammy as the engineer (ha) never marked the timing chain position.

Not sure it is a good time to advertise after what you have told us.

Mike.

Moonoi

I am afraid you are really out of date.

The Tuk Tuks we build come with full wet weather sides and also a 3 speed heater.

They are quiet and are fitted with low emission engines, also have 3 point seat belts all round and of course not to mention the fitment of anti roll bars to all our vehicles.

The intention as i understand it is that they will run along the seafront, this is a lot better than those horse drawn carrages that charge you £15 from Blackpool Tower to the Pleasure Beach.

And hey, The kids will love them.

Mike.

Ps, I have pictures of one of ours in Blackpool but not sure if i am allowed to put on here.

As others have said, dont even consider importing the whole system is corrupt.

Someone posted earlier,

So, the Customs official may decide that your 20 year old 3L Ford Grenada is worth 500,000THB, and you will end up forking out 300% on import tax. (Just a wild example!)

This is by no means a wild example.

Trust me i know, i have been there.

Mike.

Best bike i have ridden out here for long distance comfort has to be the V4 750 Honda Magna.

The worst but great fun is the Honda CBR400RR, just no good for the pillion.

Mike.

To be fair,

They are everywhere, the UK has a programme in which they set up cameras and film these so called cowboys.

I think its world wide, try building tuk tuks here.

Mike.

Have to report that the Burberry one has been taken off the road, the company running Bajas (not tuk tuks) failed to ask permission to use with their colours first.

By next season there will be a fleet of fully Hackney licensed tuk tuks running around Blackpool.

We just signed a contract to supply one of the UK's leading coach companys with rear loading 6 seaters.

Mike.

I have a nissan frontier and to be honest in the two and a half years we have had the vehicle there have been no problems.

The Navara has been on sale in the UK for many years now and was very simular to the frontier out here.

Only difference was on the road price at a nissan dealer in the UK, a 2.5 king cab on the road £19995. OUCH.

Mike.

billrose is right except for one minor detail.

As others here will know I imported a car with an agreed import price from the DFT which is where you get your import license.

Forget what you paid for the car or even the new price, they will decide how much to rip you off for.

I had 3 price increases from customs dept, when i pointed out that they had priced the new value wrong they told me to get proof from the internet of new price in US dollars.

When i finally did show them the new price they said if they accept this they would not give me 70% discount, which then made the duty even higher.

Reality, customs officers I am told have various contacts in the car trade and will and do increase the import tax until you walk away.

Then guess who buys them on the cheap

Thailand signed up to the GATT agreement but as always here signing somthing and following the code means nothing.

Mike.

The max import discount for imported cars is or was 70% for a car 10 years or older.

I dont think vintage cars would be exempt.

Mike.

There are of course cowboy builders here in hua hin as with most resort areas in Thailand.

There are numerous stories from people who get ripped off one way or another, much the same as Koh Samui or Phucket.

Always seek good advice and of course if possable talk to other ex-pats who live in the area you intend to buy.

Mike.

There are 2 really good dentists in town, the one i would recomend is dentist 2000.

Its at the far end of town near the flyover.

As for real estate agents, forget it.

There are countless propertys for rent, just hire a bike and find one.

Why would you want to pay real estates commission on top of your rent.

Mike.

You will have no problems with a budget of 20,000bht.

There is a glut of rental propertys at present.

Why dont you rent a nice townhouse as there plenty in central hua hin.

Mike.

As far as i know it is now open, we had an invite from the personell manager last week.

Sounds like a nice place.

Mike.