ArtfulD

Especially as carbon monoxide is odourless...its only of concern in indoor areas with no ventilation.

Heys, not sure if people have seen this, but I found it quite interesting.

http://www.keyhole.com/body.php?h=products&t=keyhole2LT

You can download it for a 7 day trial for free. Download is only about 9Meg.

It is very interesting and gives an amazing amount of detail of Chiang mai. It includes nearly every major US and world wide city also. Most of the sat images are about 1-2 years old but still give a very good picture of the city. Can be a bit slow as it downloads the images from NASA and other places however. Its well worth checking out. Some citys are more detailed than others.

NASA also have a free one at http://learn.arc.nasa.gov/worldwind/features.html

Havent finished downloading it yet though, its 200Meg.

Ive been pondering Samui over Phuket also, while I do indeed want perhaps more facilities/infrastructure than what Samui currently provides (from my understanding after lots of post reading) the thought that Phuket has gone overboard with development is a concern, indeed I fully expect Samui to go the same way eventually, but at least it will take a few years yet.

What type of land purchases have people here done? Via Thai wife, land lease, company? Id be looking to buy a pre built home, via company route. Would be interested on any opinions/difficulties people have ran into.

Thanks, yeah I do think a driver for any days we are out and about will be used..after seeing many photos of around Phuket however I do think it is going to be a lot easier than Bangkok (although Bangkok is mainly just going to be passing through, maybe visit some large shopping centres and thats about it).

Thanks for the replys, indeed I will have assistance as my family are going with me so I will have a couple of people to help at all times. Using a pushchair does indeed run into many of the same problems, were not really looking to wander the streets (at least not to any large degree) as in the UK I find the streets pretty bad too. My main concern is transport from say hotel-airport or some major centre etc. I appreciate its not going to be smooth sailing however. For the cost tho we may indeed go the route of full time car/driver to make things easier.

Thanks again.

Ive made a post of similar nature in the Phuket forum but I would appreciate any responses from people who spend most of their time in BK. Suffering chronic arthritis I use a wheelchair but am hoping to visit Thailand some time next year for a few weeks and as a precursor to getting there Id be interested in how people would percive it being a total nightmare or doable..Obviously riding on the back of a moped or some crowded bus etc is out of the question but im curious to know how accomodating a taxi would be (worst case scenerio Ive seen some reasonably priced BK limo companies that could be used).

Its not going to be a go out at night getting wasted holiday, biggest reason is visiting southern Phuket looking for a property near the beach (large citys are not really my thing), but i'd obviously like to at least see some of BK, and indeed will be flying there before flying to Phuket. Im not expecting miracles but then again im used to citys in the UK and their no party either! I understand probably none of you will have any experience of such matters/not really on your mind as you go about town, but any general info would be much appreciated.

Thanks.

Well im not expecting many forum users to have actually used a wheelchair on Phuket but I would appreciate informed oppinions on how you would percive it. Making it easier for those people who might have kids, going places with a pushchair etc is slightly compariable as to difficulties faced.

Im hoping to go to Thailand for a visit next year as a precursor to finding a place there but I have severe arthritis which leaves me in a chair. I`ll be with family for support etc. Obviously the biggest concern is traveling about once there, buses/moped taxies etc not quite realistic

Im not sure how impatient taxi drivers are over there with the likes of say collapsing a chair to put in a boot of a car but money is no problem so id be prepared to offer double/tripple etc if I thought it would make them a bit more patient/happier. Outside of visa runs where I might fly to BK->singapore Im not the type of person who will be leaving the house that much after settling, but obviously transport is still an issue.

After looking at a lot of different places accomodation does not look to be a problem (please correct if otherwise). Although young (26) im not really looking to go out late at night partying and not concerned with the night life of Patong etc, im more interested in looking at properties down the south of the island (which after reading this forum appear to be the better choice). I had originally planned K.S and Pattaya as possible places but after reading a lot of info on them it seems Pattaya has a bad reputation and K.S doesnt have the same facilities/infrastructure as Phuket.

Anyways, any help at all on how you imagine it being a complete nightmare, or, difficult but doable would be greatfully appreciated.

Thanks.

I think you misunderstood my reasons for running a guest house. It is merely as a convienient form of business to be able to purchase a property and land. While I would do a extremely limited amount of guests (e.g. friends staying etc) as something to put on my end of year tax results, It would not be a requirement to make any profit at all with the business as I have other income generators offshore. But as I understand it a business generating nothing year in year out can cause scrutiny upon it.

I was curious as to what happens with property that you bought but have leased the land when you wish to sell? Are the clauses written into the contract for transfer of lease etc? What pitfalls are there to be aware of?

Thanks.

Yes that is something I have considered, using that money I have set aside for buying a property and using the interest earned as rental payment and live off the interest of other funds. However looking at what properties I can rent on 18M TBH @ 5.4% interest im currently getting seem to be of a lower standard than a house bought for 18M....

Although there would be no worry of losing anything then.

Hello,

After reading nearly all posts on this forum and finding out a tonne of info must admit my dream of living in Thailand has been slightly soured by the property laws...

To that end however and not being new to running a hotel and guest house as my family did in the UK I was wondering if this would be an acceptable business to run to aid in the purchase of a property? I would not intend on making a lot of profit from it, just enough to put something down in my tax return every year. Would such an endeveour enable me to buy a nice 4/5 bedroom house with minimal risk of losing the lot? Ive seen a superb house for sale in the region of 18M TBH where 1 room could be let to friends on holiday etc. Maids/gardener also could be employees of the company.

Thanks.