mrjohn

"Meiji, Dutch Mill and others don't sell actual fresh milk"

Utter nonsense..............Meiji is fresh milk, pasteurised fresh milk. End of story.

F & N is also a good product but I have only ever seen it in Makro.

As I understand it Microsoft Security Essentials is no longer supported.

I ditched it about 9 months ago after a virus. I have a corrupt registry which is irreparable. The only solution is a complete reinstall which I shall do this weekend.

Since MSE I have been using Bit defender free version with which I have been very pleased. It's unobtrusive, effective and, best of all can be customized to accept files that I know to be fine but other antivirus programmes delete without so much as a by your leave.

The Chinese like it.

They dip fried foods in it...................Amongst other things.

Make your own. Not difficult.

Try Mr Google

and the tea comes from MHS or you are living in MHS??..... Iam doing a bike trip up there next week.

Yes the tea comes from MHS, I live in Isaan

But the point of this post was just to make contact with someone living in Mae Hong son who had a bit of spare time and could shoot down the market and mail the tea to me.

Well, many thanks to your reply.

No, there is no brand name. It is, as I said just the normal stuff in the main (covered dry goods) market.

At least 2 stalls were selling it in plain plastic bags with just the price of 60 Bht written on it.

Here's a picture:

Hope that helps.

"Well it is christmas"

As I often say to my wife (who only speaks Thai)

"Is that a yes or a no?"

"Even though the latest rule is 6 months, it really depends on the current rules in place at the immigration office that you use. My office required that it be issued within 30 days of application so it's best to check with the office that you use in advance."

That was also my understanding in previous years, hence my question.

Many Thanks

How long is the income verification letter valid?

I've searched, but I find conflicting information on this.

I normally do my retirement extension on or around 10th of January, with a letter from the UK embassy dated something like 5th of January.

My visa expires on 23 January.

As I understand it, I can apply for the extension 30 days before the expiry date.

So if I get my letter from the UK embassy next week (which I have to do by post). It would be dated around the 19th or 20th of December.

How long would that letter be valid for?

Any help on this matter will be greatly appreciated

who could do me a big favour?

I just need some tea, green tea, which is widely available in the market.

The last time I was there I bought 2 big bags for about 60 Bht each, not the best tea in the world but perfectly drinkable.

There were 3 or 4 stalls in the main market, selling the same sort of thing, clear plastic bags with no label.

Unfortunately, I don't have the time to get up North this year and such luxuries as green tea are not available where I live.

So I would be very grateful if somebody could buy some and post it to me.

Obviously I will refund the costs and possibly add on a beer or two for the trouble.

If anyone can help I would be very grateful. A PM might be the best way to proceed.

"OK - I do not know what I am looking for - you are obviously so clever that you can work my mind."

So what exactly are you looking for? This question crops up on a regular basis.

If you could be a little more specific as to what you are actually looking for you might find that others could point you in the right direction.

Well, either you have not been looking or (much more likely) have no idea what you are looking for.

The four spices most often used in Indian cooking are available in the main market in every decent sized town in Thailand, even in such cultural backwaters as Chiang Mai and Khon Kaen!

Most of the others that you might need are usually available in Makro, though, admittedly, not always of the best quality.

The trick is to buy them when you see them and store them properly.

The only spice I have ever found difficult to find here is decent cardamom.

If Thai markets are too much of a challenge, then Tesco, Tops and Rimping supermarkets have most things as well.

"I have never had any Thai beef that is nearly as good as good imported beef"

I refer you all to the answer I gave some time ago. The Thai beef I buy here in Thailand from the local Thai market is every bit as good as the beef I used to buy in the UK ( I spent nearly thirty years in catering so I know what I am talking about) the key is in the ageing of the meat. See my previous post.

if you are expecting to buy good beef from a Bangkok or Tourist ghetto supermarket in a nice plastic tray (incontinence nappy included) then you are going to be disappointed.

Real food takes skill, knowledge, time and effort.

Most "Indian" spices are available in any Thai market.

"Real proper beef is almost impossible to get here”

Not entirely true.

It depends where you live.

I live in the centre of Thailand's dairy industry. Holstein Friesians are the local breed.

We buy excellent beef at 230 Bht a kilo from the local market.

The secret is in ageing the beef.

This is done almost as a matter of course in Northern Europe, but almost never in Thailand.

Ideally you need to buy a whole carcass, but since that would involve having a commercial cold room, it is not very practical.

What I do is to buy a large lump about 4 or 5 kg and put it in the fridge, uncovered, for at least 6 days, if not longer. Turn it every 2 days, to allow the air to circulate.

As the muscle fibres rest and enzymes in the meat do their work the beef develops flavour and becomes increasingly tender.

More details here:

http://www.seriouseats.com/2013/03/the-food-lab-complete-guide-to-dry-aging-beef-at-home.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beef_aging

Posted this before on another thread but still holds true:

I bought Phillips 4Gb 18 months ago after constant trouble with a Samsung U6

Definitely don't buy the cheap Thai ones they are a nightmare.

The Phillips is excellent in every way. No problems, easy to use, very good sound and well-designed armband. Supports many file types Wav Ogg Mp3 and Flac

I couldn't be more pleased with it.

http://www.philips.c...rga04kn_12/prd/

The only drawback is that you might need to go to an authorised Phillips dealer to get one.

I bought Phillips 4Gb 18 months ago after constant trouble with a Samsung U6

Definitely don't buy the cheap Thai ones they are a nightmare.

The Phillips is excellent in every way. No problems, easy to use, very good sound and well-designed armband. Supports many file types Wav Ogg Mp3 and Flac

I couldn't be more pleased with it.

http://www.philips.co.uk/c/mp3-and-mp4-players/gogear-raga-4-gb-sa4rga04kn_12/prd/

The only drawback is that you might need to go to an authorised Phillips dealer to get one.

Many legal advantages to marriage.

Would you (or anyone) like to expand on this?

Many thanks. I'll pass this on to him.

Just as a matter of interest is there a German equivalent of Thaivisa.com??

Many thanks for the prompt replies.

He has a long-term girlfriend, but is not actually married.

I think he used to go back to Germany every year and get a new non-O visa

He is certainly old enough for a retirement extension.

What exactly are the criteria for applying for a non-O single entry visa in Vientiane? At what point would he have to show proof of income?

As I understand it, if you get a non-o visa. You can extend it for retirement by showing proof of income at immigration in Thailand. Is this correct?

I have a German friend whose English is not very good, which is why I am posting this question on his behalf.

As I understand the story, he was back home in Germany this year and sent off his application for non-immigrant visa, but his passport was lost in the post on the way to the Thai embassy.

By the time he had received a replacement passport. His flight back to Thailand was due, and he had no time to apply for a visa again.

So he entered Thailand without a visa for a 30 day stay.

So my question is, where is the nearest place for him to apply for a non-immigrant visa without having to go back to Germany. Vientiane would be best for him.

Thanks in advance for any advice you can give.

Thanks for all the replies.

The general consensus appears to be that there is little or no advantage in getting married.

Particular thanks to beetlejuice for providing the sort of info I was looking for.

Quote:

"if intending to remain in Thailand with a partner, there are no good reasons to get married. In fact in many cases the guy is actually placing himself at a disadvantage by burdening himself in a marriage."

Anybody got anything to add to this?

Perhaps I should clarify a few points as to our circumstances.

I am British and the long-term girlfriend is (of course) Thai.

If we were living in the UK, then I suspect it would be advantageous, or even necessary, for us to be married for residency and citizenship purposes. However, I have no intention of going back to the UK to live.

No, we don't have any children between us, nor are we going to have any.

Having to show less money to support my visa extension may become an issue for me at some time in the future, so this is one of the reasons why I was trying to get some ideas of any positive advantage in having a relationship legally ratified.

So, bearing this in mind, is there anything to gain from getting married?

This is a serious topic

Is there really any advantage in getting married?

I have been very happy with my girlfriend for eight years. Apart from the obvious fact that I would only need to show an income of 400,000 Bht instead of 800,000 Bht (a curious bit of Thai logic in my opinion)I am wondering what sort of advantages there are for either, or both of us.

Any helpful advice would be very much appreciated.