DGS1244

1 hour ago, barryofthailand said:

All these cars and trucks that catch fire are powered by LPG. They should ban LPG in Thailand and let them use NGV which will not explode or catch fire when involed in an accident

What a incorrect statement, NGV can explode and catch fire just the same as LPG. The difference is that NGV is a compressed gas that is lighter than air therefor rises quickly , LPG is a liquefied gas that is heavier than air. Both highly flammable.

I am planning to leave Chiang Mai for a few months and go down to Rayong/Chantaburi area to avoid the pollution. Nowhere in Chiang Mai is free from it.

Nothing wrong with Zoe in Yellow. Just a lot of made up stories by people who never go there. Yes it is a younger element that go there so What? Where else is there apart for pubs that take care of the retirees and a few "lady" bars that take care of those in need. Very few places for teenagers to go in Chiang Mai. 

Strange. No hair which can be a sign of long term chemo but no sign of a scar. Chemo does not normally start until after surgery to remove a growth. Would be nice to know in English what her treatment was/is she has undergone. 

How long have you been driving here? I ask only in the fact that after three months you need a Thai driving licence. Interestingly in over 40 years of having an IDP I have never been asked to show it in any country.

You can apply here, not sure where, for an IDP but I believe only after you have got a Thai licence.

Originally Qatar Airways were suppose to start a direct daily flight from Doha to Chiang Mai this last November, now talking about January 2017

One big problem with underfloor cooling is that there is no air filtration. with conventional  A/C you can add HEPA filters which can really improve the air quality essential in parts of Thailand when air pollution is a problem.  

Plenty in Macro frozen and cooked also try Villa. there are a lot of smallish  frozen Thai turkeys around need to brine  them before roasting. all around 450 baht a kilo.

38 minutes ago, alocacoc said:

What concerns him is the requirement that one must have health insurance covering hospital stays and annual coverage worth at least USD$10,000.

“I’m not sure about the compulsory medical insurance, though,” Carter said. “Never encountered a rule like this before.”

Many insurance companies do not cover at the required level, he added.

 

I don't get it. 10000 USD is nothing. I spent 700 000 baht in one week at Bangkok Hospital. Then, my intl. insurance is not limited to a certain amount of money.

 

And, how can someone retire abroad without a health insurance? That's insane.

Easy, when you get to a certain age normally 70 plus, medical insurance for a reasonable price and cover is just about impossible. Time you take out the insurers deductibles and cover for existing illnesses there is practically nothing left to pay for any treatment. Accident insurance is about the only cover available and even that now has limitations with age. Bangkok hospital has always been one of the most expensive, much more expensive than Ram in Chiang Mai and others in Bangkok

No Mafia, now that is a joke. I was there a few weeks ago and the local beach masseurs where paying a third party on a daily basis and it was nothing to do with 'loans'.

6 hours ago, Peterw42 said:

I would imagine the problem you describe would be a condo management issue, have you taken it to them. 

Check the wording of your lease, sometimes the tenant is responsible for repairs. 

Unfortunately it is not a condo, it is a house?? I rent a house and carry out most repairs, I then deduct, with the owners consent, the cost from the rent. Suggest you do the same, carry out a repair then deduct cost of same from rent. A no brainer if you ask me.

It was mentioned that the loan was in the wife's name, technically unless you have a work permit a farang cannot obtain credit to purchase a new car, and normally no way for a second hand one. Some 'agents' seemed to get around this problem but reputable dealers can have a problem unless you have a third party name and guarantee.

1 hour ago, stereolab said:

The only way to check if an applicant stays at a specific named address, is to visit him/her at home. However , this is unlikely to happen, as it would involve to much effort and co-ordination. Nong Khai staffing levels would easily cope with carrying out these checks. Once you square away the good guys that leaves time for the bad guys. Additionally, if you are going to add in new requirements, why not make it known to the individuals on your system, you have their e-mail addresses, a single global e-mail and everyone is made aware of the new requirements. 

Obviously you do not live in the San Sai of Chiang Mai where they have been visiting the homes of retirees in force and giving everyone a document that has to be completed, similar to the new one that Immigration offices are using.

Like Children

Rimping Supermarkets in Chiang Mai have frozen Turkeys but at 600 Baht a kilo, smallest they had as over 3500 Baht. Guess no Turkey for Christmas this year.

You should have agreed all this at the contract stage. I have arrangement with my land lord that I do/arrange most repairs and deduct the cost from the rent, he is more than pleased with this as he has less to worry about and his house is kept in good condition.

Cremation in Thailand, Max 50,000 TBhat although most places cheaper.

21 minutes ago, impulse said:

 

Quick question...   How would your family know if you had bought travel insurance?  Until long after they had access to your accounts and computer and credit card statements.  By which time it's too late.

 

My family certainly wouldn't know whether I had travel insurance - for weeks after my demise.

 

And even if he did have travel insurance, they generally reimburse for expenses looong after you send in the receipts.  Which means my family would need to scrape up the up-front cash anyway.

Its called 'communication' my family would certainly know.  A reputable insurer would pay out sooner, check the conditions when you buy, or as they say 'buyer beware'

1 hour ago, harrycallahan said:

No. If you don't have the money to fly his body home in a casket then have him cremated in Thailand, at a discount developing world price, and carry him free in the overhead locker. Those with the spare change to pay for your desired extravagance can give it to an orphanage.

Think this is a sensible suggestion, guess he didn't bother to have travel insurance, normally that would have paid for the deceased to be returned to Houston. I am sure no one is going to pay for me when my time comes, why should they?

Most rented houses in Thailand are reinforced concrete and block infill not many brick and direct fire damage normally contained to a single room with the rest smoke and heat damaged. As someone else mentioned previously to insure property you have to have an 'insurable' interest, renters do not. Yes you can get cover via a 'Renters' insurance but the cover is very limited if you read the small print and only a very few Thai companies offer it.The property cover is something that should be discussed with the landlord at the very beginning of the contract not wait to you have a fire etc. In Thailand new flood damage cover is not offered to anyone from any company unless, and only on renewal, if  they already have cover from the same company but it is very limited, about 2,000 TBaht per claim.

Many Insurance companies will insure the house (Building) for you although not cheap. Suggest you approach a foreign company such as AIA for better coverage and payout. But do you really need to, contents yes, property ??

Something is a little confusing. They say that they do not know who the tourist woman was and cannot find her yet seem to 'know' that she 'found' her watch later. seems rather odd.

51 minutes ago, elviajero said:

Your plan is fine. Get a SETV (60 days), extend it by 30 days, do a border hop at Nong Khai or Mukdahan and re-enter under the Visa Exempt Scheme (30 days). A METV would be slightly more convenient, but if you're only staying 111 days it's not really worth the extra cost.

1. No. Assuming you're living in Khon Kean you will need to apply for the extension at that office. They should let you apply anytime within the last 2 weeks.
2. No. A Non 'O' (retirement) is only available (in the UK) to those receiving state pension.

I think there is some confusion here regarding an 'O' Visa, two people saying the opposite. I obtained my 'O' visa in the UK before I received a government pension and then applied for a retirement extension originally in Bangkok.

7 hours ago, alex8912 said:

No in my west. I never heard of tips being pooled in any normal restaurant. I know many servers. Why would they be pooled?  Some servers make $200+ a night and another one at same restaurant might make $125. I'm from the country that is known for tipping.  No one  pays for broken glass. Sounds like a bit of cheap Charley at your restaurants. Did the staff ever stay more than a month??

Only in America, the rest of us are civilised when it comes to tipping. In US 20 % + I know is not unusual, better to pay a decent wage and forget the tips.

10 minutes ago, alex8912 said:

How in the "West" do owners rip off the staff from tips?  It goes right into the pocket of the server. In some high end restaurants the server has to give some to the bus boys.  The owners get zero of the tips.  You are wrong. 

No I think it is you that is wrong, having run a number of restaurants in the 'West' , all tips received were place in a box then any breakages losses etc. caused by waiting staff was deducted and the rest shared out to staff equally.