Bandersnatch

I bought a DVD from Amazon and the import duty was 70% of the purchase price. They charged me duty, storage etc and then tax on the total. It all totalled 70%.

Everything is dirt cheap here compared to UK! Except for imported goods...

I came over from london.

Rent is now £200 per month compared to £900.

Meal with drinks in a restaurant £10 compared to £30.

Taxi £1-2 compared with £5-10.

Pint of Beer is £1.40 compared to £4.50.

I think people forget who have been here a while that UK prices rocket too...

whats the minimum wage in london ? little bit more than 300bht.a day.

Closer to ฿300 an hour

Probably explains why they now keep the doors open in flight http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2279416/My-terror-27-000ft-Jet-door-blew-open-crew-plugged-gap-blankets-says-Briton.html

I put my car in the wife's name as there was a ฿100,000 discount that I would loose if it was in my name. http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/497908-bt100000-excise-tax-cut-for-first-car-buyers/

Like others on this topic, I am looking for a combination of insurance and self-insurance, with the insurance cover for just the higher cost items, but when I looked on the Bupa site http://www.bupa.co.th/en/individuals/health-insurance/compare-insurance-plan.aspx?cgid=6 the Thailand only insurance just covers ฿600,000 a year.

Managed to meet up with highbrows for a game today.

We played at Suan Rot Fai สวนรถไฟ which is about 10 minutes walk from MRT Phahon Yothin.

I have attached a map, but basically you leave MRT Phahon Yothin at exit 3 and cross the small park, which is basically a roundabout.

Then cross the footbridge. You come out at the corner of SRT Park. Turn right with the park on your left and go around the corner. You will see the tennis courts across the road, but you have to keep walking until you see the bridge.

The courts cost 35 baht per hour and are in average condition. They were not busy on a Sunday afternoon. They have a tennis wall there.

I am keen to play tennis. Huay Kwang area.

Probably rank myself as a level 4

http://www.usta.com/...ion/About_NTRP/

I arrived last Friday 9pm and flew out Sunday 4pm and it was very quick. The single line with staff directing people to each desk really seemed to work. On the way out I was waved through to the Thai only desk - first time that has every happened.

Good question Ruddy and I am sure that you will get lots of very different opinions.

I was working in the Sukhumvit/Asoke area but wanted something with a more local feel and cheaper, so I moved to Huay Kwang. It has an MRT station, night market, also a fresh market during the day with fruit, vegetables, fish and seafood. There are also lots of local places to eat.

It is close to Robinson, Tesco Lotus, Esplanade (good cinema) and Fortune Town IT Mall.

I also think that a lot of the quality of life in Bangkok comes down to where you live and if you can get a nice new condo for a reasonable price with swimming pool, fitness center, laundry, mini-mart, restaurant, coffee shop and 24/7security - it makes a real difference.