salapau

I think you need to talk to her rather than ask for advice on this platform. Nice lunch somewhere and tell her what you're thinking and feeling. Don't try = don't know.

Officially you need a one year visa of some sort to change from a 1 year to a 5 year. No difference if you change after the expiry date.

I am like you in that I have been travelling every 5 weeks and not staying longer than a couple of weeks so only needed a visa waiver (do you mean tourist visa or visa waiver?). I am now on my third one year licence. I tried very hard in Pattaya to get a 5 year but could not manage it.

Pattaya no issue to get a Immigration residence certificate on a visa waiver if you have some form of proof of address but no idea about CM. Suggest you have a look at the pinned thread in the motor forum for any recent experiences.

Sorry I disagree. You cannot get a five year licence now if you have a 1 year extension, even if you live here.

This is the future if Suthep gets his way.

He should change the yellow shirts to brown shirts, more inline with their thugish actions.

Fully agree with your comments, how can the voting public of Thailand support these acts of brutality, hope fully they won't !

Terrible decision bowing down to the despicable protesters, her government still has 2 years of their term in power. As to the reply made reference working for her brother rather than the people of Thailand, what absolute nonsense, how do you know ?

Since learning to speak and understand Thai, I find that I am more accepted as a local and no longer pay the higher prices, even pay a lower price for beer at my local drinking troughs.. If I need to buy something of high value however I show the wife what I want and get her to buy it.

Double pricing is annoying but it also happens in London, Paris and some parts of Spain.

More disgusting public habits :- looking in a mirror squeezing blackheads on their faces - brushing their hair - having another woman pick in your hair for what, grey hairs or lice - discarding empty drink containers anywhere especially off motor bikes or out of cars - cutting toe nails in guesthouse reception. The one I most hate is when you're on a motor bike following another and they " gob " into the wind.

I live in Mae Sariang in the Northwest. Smallish town but expanding, that dosn't worry me too much as I live just outside the town in a quiet area. Internet and phone service is difficult sometimes with poor connections on sim cards. I do however go into town to use the free wi-fi of a couple of quiet hotels when I need good internet reception.

My only observation to you is to be carefull in going forward with buying land and building your ideal style house. Language difficulties are the most frustrating and the labour force are not dependable. If you reaaly want to buy I would suggest that you think about buying a completed property. I would certainly suggest that you rent a house initially for at least two years and then make your decisions. There are some nice houses here for rent around 3,000 baht per month. The remote areas are not popular for foreigners to settle, so if you're looking for friendship that will be a problem for you, as it has been for me.

I wish you luck in this last chance to settle somewhere nice.

Interesting post. I'm Engilish, been here 4 years now. Live in the Northwest in Mae Sariang, small but growing town. Not many foreigners living or visiting here. I live on the edge of town in a lovely quiet area. Mostly farming land here but much more productive than the Northeast, with crops reaping 2 to 3 harvests a year. Property is much cheaper to rent or buy here compared to Chiang Mai. Infastructure is ok but with a growing town it can cause some problems with power cuts. All in all, I prefer it to city life but miss the decent medical facilties and being able to buy some western food. Relaxing area, not too much hastle, but still have to contend with the terrible riding/driving by the Thais.

Pathetic country, pathetic responses. Thailand is full of negativity both in it's culture and the people.

Who cares, live and learn.

taxes: about 4000 BHT per year

top insurance: around 15,000 BHT per year

inspections: cheap . . labour is really inexpensive in Thailand . . one inspection evey 5000 km around 1200 BHT

diesel per litre 36 BHT . . check your Pajero specs . .should use 7-8 litre of Diesel per 100 km

unexpected ? flat tires, deep potholes that can derange the steering, killing dogs and stopping for them in order to be scammed of a large sum of money.

Costs for labour are actually very low, like getting car care, washing inside out, 150 - 200 BHT, as there are no drive through carwash.

retired ? Just hope you are aware of the skills it needs to compete with THAI traffic. It is a completeley awkward experience for some. . . Thaisdrive a bit different from what you might used to

Sorry I disagree slightly. With four door trucks the tax is higher as is insurance. I have a Toyota Hilux four door, which I bought when it was 3 years old, from a Toyota Sure dealer, 2 year full warranty ( negotiated. )

Annual tax - between 7,000 & 8,000 baht. Note that this annual price decreases as the motor gets older.

Insurance - 1st. class insurance from a top company is closer to 20,000 baht. Check with the provider what's covered especially where the vehicle would be repaired as in respect to where you're living. If you need panels replaced you need to be able to insist on genuine parts not paterns.

Service - I don't use my Hilux much so I have a full service once a year when I renew the insurance. Oil change, new filters etc. and everything checked @ 1,300 baht. Last sevice included new front brake pads and extra 140 baht.

I find tyres qutie expensive @ between 5,000 and 6,000 baht.

Hope this helps.

Kick her into touch, stop sending her money, unfriend her and change your phone number, end of lies and decepition, be happy.

I drove for a year on a British driving licence, no problem. There should however be no difficulty in you obtaining a Thai licence. Go to immigration for a set letter, then to a clinic for a medical certificate ( 5 minutes and they only take your blood pressure. ) With your wife take these to your local office with your passport and your home country licence, you'll be there about an hour. Take the simple practical test in the office and you will have licences for both car and motor bike. Then get your own transport and drive yourself. Your brother in law can join you whilst you're driving, BUT DON'T LET HIM DRIVE.

" will not use force against the protesters " When people are being shot dead or injured, why not it's the only way sometimes.

This is a really good, well written post. I fully agree with the issues that you describe. Like you I live in a rural area with very few foreigners around, either living here or passing through as tourists. I try hard to fit in wherever I can and have learned to speak and understand Thai, which has helped me in the local community. I have helped my neighbours with work on my house and gardens, children in the schools willing to learn English and other things.

Similarly to you there are times when I will not lose my identity or my culure. If I really disagree with something, either action or spoken word, I will speak out. I have always stood up for myself and my family members and will not lose sight of wright and wrong or the fact that I am truly proud to be English, whichever country I am in.

Extremism at it's worst, what is wrong with these type of people all over the globe ?

Unbelievable !! Leave the army where it is, postpone the birthday celebrations until all this illegal protesting comes to an end. These prptesters are breaking so many laws, including illegally breaking into properties they have no right to be in. Get tough Thailand start usin high water jets and then throwthese people into prisons.

Go to the school and meet this director. Tell him exactly what you think of his actions and that you are going to the highest possible authority to report him. This is your son you must do him justice and get this guy removed from his current job and destroy his chances of ever teaching in school again.

Forget all this nonsense spouted about how your are a foreigner and you must remember that you're in Thailand. Stand up and be counted, make a stand for you and your family. Don't sit on the fence, do something now !!

Yingluck promises " to provide uninterrupted sevices to the publc. " What services, does the government provide any, or does she mean the staff working for the " government, " in the most outrageously and well kept buildings and teachers, petty officials at immigration etc. will still get their high salaries and benefits ?

Nothing you can do apart from move. " By the short and curlies " comes to mind.

Worlwide nobody worries, but don't be a perve.

Tell the woman who rents the bike to you that you don't want it anymore. Buy a second hand bike and get it insured properly.

Carry on working, don't say a word but find another more reliable job.

Absolute madness, what's the matter with you. Go to the North Pole, cut a hole in the ice and dive in.