DGS1244

International permit required together with your normal licence but plays no part in vehicle insurance. First three months in country and you can use your home licence after that you need a Thai Licence.

It also looks a lot like a water snake, not venomous, do you live anywhere near a Klong or stream or water source?

Forget retiring in the cities.

Life is so much better in the villages, quiet , no noisy farangs drunk wearing vests, being loud borish.

Village life with only like minded retired expats like me will do for me.

Great if you want to live like a native, Thai food only, no watering holes, no English spoken. no hospitals or good doctors, no vets etc. etc. Tried it for a while then realised what I was missing...a life...give me Chiang Mai anyday.

The OP isn't a legal brief. It's a summary by a writer who has limited legal understanding.

There is a doctrine in the law called aggravation. If you commit a crime it can be aggravated by other circumstances which are notably called aggravating circumstances. An example is killing someone while committing another crime such as robbing a bank. You are toast.

In this case the man was already a serious felon because he smashed his way into the house with a tire iron. At that point he lost all of his rights including self defense. You have no rights while committing a crime.

Breaking into someone's home is so serious in Missouri (and in my state) that the homeowner may kill you just for being there. That's right. The homeowner doesn't have to wait to find out what you're up to, why you're there or even if you're armed. Break in and commit suicide.

This guy was either losing on appeals or having courts refuse to hear his appeals as a matter of law. The facts weren't in dispute not even by the killer. He broke into someone's house and someone was killed and he was naked before the law.

End of.

Makes a change to read a post that is both sensible and informative, we live and learn.

A disaster waiting to happen, monorails to carry large amounts of people are a failure in just about every where they have been tried. One still running is in Malaysia and they still have problems trying to keep it running even after many tears. Other countries have had to replace them with conventional systems.

They should stick to conventional or light rail systems.

I expect you had your "Microsoft account" setup for a different region for your first subscription than the 2nd MS Office 365 subscription region your bought.

Example: if your Microsoft account was setup for the UK and you bought a subscription coded for the UK, you could not install a Office 365 Asia-Pacific (APAC) version initially/to renew....or vice versa region-wise. To install the Office 365 APAC version you would need to change your Microsoft region profile to one of the APAC countries like Thailand although you could still keep English as the language. You would also need to set your PC's date/time clock to the Office subscription region you are installing...after it's installed/activated you can set your PC clock to whatever time zone.

I hear what you say Pib and I know that problem but the Laptop was purchased at IT City in Thailand, paid in TBaht and has all Thailand purchased software. The computer came with pre-installed windows 8 and I am wondering if IT City use a UK supplied windows??? Any comment you care to make appreciated.

I would not touch Office 365 with a barge pole. I installed the single version on my computer and when I came to the renewal the cost was going to be greater than going out and buying a new original copy. Depends where you come from etc. When I was trying to renewl I had nothing but problems with Microsoft, they seemed to think I was in the UK and wanted to charge more even though nothing on my computer has even had anything to do with the UK. I also kept referring me to a Thai site that could not be changed into English or any other language.

A fix camera is situated on the road between Chiang Mai and Lampun, you don't even know it is there until the summons comes through the post a couple of days later demanding 400BT.

Buy a D-Link router, guaranteed for life and they will program it for you. Just changed mine and had no problems.

Visit the Kings Project at Doi Saket, Chiang Mai, they teach frog farming there and help people to set up their own farm. The whole place is well worth a visit not just for the thousands of frogs there but many other projects as well for farmers.

I too thought of Portugal until I check the prices of accommodation and cost of living. I could do it but decided it was just not worth all the hassle especially as I also have several dogs that would need to go.

This is another example of sensational reporting. The engine did not fail but there was a fault in the oxygen system. The pilots initiated a rapid descent from their cruising altitude down to the oxygen level of 10,000ft initially, and landed the aircraft safely. Dramatic for the pax, yes, but pretty much in a day's work for your average pilot which is practiced umpteen times by them and it's part of the many emergency procedures carried out when necessary. Well done to the pilots who did their jobs to the book and everyone walked away, shaken but alive.

Obviously you know something no body else does??? All the reports coming out including those in China mention engine failure. Anyone who says that during an engin failure planes do not descend very rapidly as indicated have not studied aircraft accidents. They can, and have. dropped like stones just look at the Trident that crashed in Staines UK some years ago. Flying altitude to ground in a few seconds. The dropping speed required for passengers to have nose bleeds etc. is far more than what a normal high speed pilot controlled descent would be.

If a plane loses power in any of the engines and is about to stall and go into direct vertical descent then the pilot immediately increases available power and puts the nose down to gain more speed and recover from the stall by increasing the airflow over the wings. Hence the sudden fast descent, standard procedure.

Depending upon your type of visa you are most likely not able to open a sterling account in a Thai Bank. Standard Chartered did allow USD accounts if you had work permit, not sure about now though.

Maybe OK if you have a residents letter from police and a 'medical'.

It should be tested hydraulically otherwise the test is meanless.

read the question.

SO? Another meaningless post.

Cost depends upon what is 'inspected'

As a general rule CNG systems should be tested every 6 months . I notice some garages in Pattaya have a sign up saying words to the effect that you should have a certificate every 6 months otherwise they won't fill the tank . I've not been asked for one so far but my car is relatively new and was fitted by the Honda factory and the 6 month service covers a CNG test .

A full hydraulic test is only required every five years, what they mean is a visual check to ensure there is no external damage and the valves are working correctly.

It should be tested hydraulically otherwise the test is meanless.

Before using Goo Gone, which is very expensive here, try using a hair dryer to warm up the offending sticker slightly then gently prise if off, works well.

Don't believe that for one minute that it will happen. Where will all the lady boys go? That area has to be the most crazy place during Sonkran in Thailand.

Avoid the Consulate/embassy in Manila like the plaque. I tried it once, they want the originals of documents that no other embassy requires, bank details in and out of Thailand, Birth certificates etc. etc.

Apparently it comes from too many Philippineos trying to get permits to come to Thailand to work. Be warned.Explains why when you go there there is never anyone there let alone a 'queue' like KL or Jakarta.

It all is up to all the EXTRA (=Expensive) stuff (read partying + stupidities) you will be doing.

I live comfortable in Pattaya for between 25000-30000 baht per month, all included (rent and such), including 5-6-7 drinking drunk days.

But I understand most farangs could not handle that and would spend these amounts per week, and still say they are not living comfortable.

Outside of Bangkok this post makes complete sense. All the talk about ex-pats spending 100,000 per month is wishful thinking for many, most retired expats do not spend anything like that amount. Use the bar scene sensibly and don't get caught in paying for 'families' etc. and you should not have any problems. I do know many teachers outside of Bangkok earning less than 30,000 per month and still survive with a reasonable life style. I have a good income but choose not to waste my money every month and try to keep a budget of less than 40,000/month and still have a very good lifestyle with all my needs satisfied.

Here we go again!!!! remember the 'dummies' last time, it became difficult to know if they were the real thing or not, at least they were more lifelike.

"- health insurance is mandatory, regardless of how fit and healthy you are"

Health insurance is not mandatory, left up to you but most likely you will have 'Travel Insurance' cover for the first three months. If you buy locally then it depends upon age etc. Always get cheap local accident cover in case you are involved in an accident etc.

Remember Bangkok is considerably more expensive than Ayutthaya or Pattaya, some places like Chiang Mai are a lot more reasonable but you must sort a job out before you come.

Your AXA insurance will cover the phone if it is 'lost' providing you have listed it under the individual items column but not for accidental damage. Not aware of any company in Thailand offering accidental damage cover.