essexman

Anybody got a Fortuner with 300,000km on the clock?

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My brother in law in Jomtien has a Fortuner. Its 6 years old, and he has had it from new. Petrol engine, and he has just clocked up 290,000km. It still runs very well.

Must admit, like Pattaya Pat, I need occasionally, a "Western fix." Be it fish and chips or a burger .. Obviously something completely un-healthy.

Fish and chips I tend to go to Simon's in Jomtien. Sounds a bit pricey after reading some of the comments on here, however I always enjoy, so not worried about paying a few extra baht. Can recommend the burgers from the Kiss restaurants ... Nice big burger, and 47 baht. You can push the boat out and have cheese for another 6 baht.

^{Well I think the price for a second hand car in Thailand is not far to expensive. 2 years ago my Brother-in-law paid 490,000 baht for a 8 year old Toyota saloon. I just paid 482,000 baht for a new Honda Brio Amaze.}

Well went to the Embassy in Bangkok yesterday ... It all went without a hitch. The Thai divorce papers were all accepted, without having to have them translated. I guess I was in there for around 1 hour 30 minutes. I had 4 people in front of me, and I waited about 45 minutes after being seen, for the affirmation to be done. I was approached by a tout to get the affirmation translated into Thai. They did this for 300 baht. Thought that was quite reasonable, my wife checked it all and hopefully it will be accepted for the visit to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. I could have let this agency do this for me, but they wanted 3,300 baht. I don't know, I just felt it was a bit steep, plus I was a tad worried about them sending it to me. I have found Thai post a bit hit and miss, and I could just imagine the hassle if the documents got lost. So I will at some point go to the M.O.F.A myself. Run out of time yesterday because my wife wanted to get to Pratunam market to get some stock for her market stall. Must say all the travel yesterday went without hitch. I parked at Bangna at a Tesco lotus. Caught the Sky train to Ploenchit. The Embassy is really close to the exit there. After we caught the train to Chidlom... Only one stop for the market. Coming home I used the Google map GPS ... It got me out of Bangna and on to the expressway easily. OK ... Is it possible to get to the M.O.F.A by driving? I'm in no rush, but will go there within the next month I would think.

I have the 3 Millennium trilogy books in paperback. Girl with the dragon tattoo, girl who played with fire, and the girl who kicked the hornets nest. A really fantastic read and all three books became international best sellers. Tragic really as the author Stieg Larsson never saw the success as he dropped dead at 50 while the books were still in the manuscript stage.

Have watched the films, also very good.

Well I have only been looking for a car the past few weeks ... So can't really comment on the 30% in the last six months. However I did find the price of a second hand car extremely expensive. I went to a Nissan dealer in Pattaya, I just wanted a small car, thought the Nissan March would be ideal. New price starts at 382,000 baht. This is for the basic model, and when they say basic .. Its basic, not even a radio !! The next model up had all the bits you expect on a car, price 444,000 baht. I spotted a second hand car and wandered over to have a look. It was in good condition, but had 72,000 kilometers on the clock. When I inquired I was told the car was 3 years old, the best bit, it was the basic model ... How much? 350,000 baht !!! 32,000 baht cheaper than a new one?

Well I'm going on Monday (28th) so I will stick a post on when I get back. For you information Joe, the Embassy told me that a English or Thai divorce paper is OK. The lady I spoke to, said the staff accept a Thai divorce paper, and no need to translate into English. However the proof will be in the pudding on Monday.

Regarding getting it translated, I agree, its no big hassle. However if its not required, why do it?

Thanks to the members who have given me advice on my OP.

Having phoned the Embassy, it sounds like the Thai divorce papers will be acceptable.

Not sure if any member can help me with this one. I want to go to the British Embassy to get a affirmation of freedom to marry sorted. The only divorce papers I have, is my divorce from my Thai wife. This was done at the amphur in Pattaya. The whole document is in Thai ... Will this be a problem when I present it to the embassy?

Thanks for the info Crossy. Sounds like a good way of saving a trip.

Thanks for the replies. The MOFA is to get a freedom to marry rubber stamped.

Hi David, thanks for the quick reply. You may well be right about this Tesco's not being the start station for the Skytrain. What I'm after is driving directions from Pattaya to the said Tesco's, and maybe some sort of reference so I can see the route on Google maps.

Hi, I am after a bit of directional advice. I have to admit my sense of direction is not great, so really need to be able to find where to go via Google maps. OK, I live in Pattaya and I want to find a Tesco Lotus on the outskirts of Bangkok that is the starting point for the Skytrain. I have been told you can park at this Tesco's, and walk upstairs to get on the Skytrain. I need to visit a few places, not all on the same day. I need to go to the British Embassy, so any member know which station I need to get to? Also the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The other places i am going to I have found which stations I need.

That sounds like a 7,000 to 11.000 Baht a month apartment. Probably a bit more than what a person on a 32,000 budget usually spends.

Best of luck any way.

Don't tell your ex where you are living if possible, she will be round causing problems.

You are in the right price bracket. Its 8,000 a month. I did look at cheaper places but to be honest you get what you pay for. I'd rather spend a couple of extra nights in a week and be in a nice place. I did look at one that was 5,000 and it was dire. The extra 3000 just seems so much more worth paying.

The other good thing is its a bugger to find ..lol. The first couple of days i kept having trouble finding it. No the ex wont be coming here. She has written about getting a divorce, so the sooner the better now.

Everybody is different, I met a guy through a friend who is quite happy to live in a studio that costs 3,500. He took me to see it as there was another available. No air/con. Beyond basic. He had a little kettle that he pluged into the bathroom to make a coffee. No cable or wifi. But he just uses it as a knocking base. I couldn't live like that, I need a few comforts in life. But it suits this guy, so good luck to him,

Well I would like to wish every member a Happy New Year to start with. I feel able to start posting again, and give an update to my position. No surprise really, I am now living in Pattaya. All went belly up on New Years Eve. So I moved out and stayed at a good friends for a couple of days while we looked for a decent apartment. I've been lucky to find a nice apartment in a complex called Moonlight. Its very nice and quite, only 20 apartments and has security key card and a guy at night, so it feels safe. The apartment is nice with air/con wifi and cable. Has a nice swimming pool and garden. Early days I know, but I feel its a good choice. Its only about 2 minutes fromSukhumvit, off a road call Toongklom Talman.

So will now see how my budget goes. I have written off this month as I had to buy a few extra thing for the apartment. Plus I joined Casta Gym yesterday, So its just a case of finding my feet, finding my bearings and chilling out for a while.

I'm still getting abuse even though I'm not their !! But I think its just anger that she does not have control of me now. The phone calls have stopped so maybe at last I can now start to relax and enjoy life. It does feel strange, but I think with time I'll get over this experience, and be a wiser man.

Thanks again to the members who took time to post and gave me the confidence to get out of that realationship.

Mickey Pearce!!!..........fantastic

Have a feeling I'd walk right past him without recognizing him now. Used to love his character Mickey Pearce.

Good luck with your ant massacre, Happy New Year to you.

Well at least the big majority of members have posted a positive response, something which I appreciate. There is something to be said about Robert Maxwell, if it wasn't for him we wouldn't have the safeguards in company pensions that we have now. Being a former pension trustee, I have a bit of confidence that my company pension will be safe. Of course there is a government support scheme as well. So worst case for me my pension will increase 2.5% a year. The last 2 years it has gone up 7.3%

I do also appreciate the members who think the amount is on the low side, something I know and will have to take into account. I'm in a fraggile state at the moment so don't really appreciate this kind of response:

"Nah, if you have to ask whether you can live on 32k a month now then its 50:50 that you will be destiture in a decade...just another broke falang jumping from a condo balcony or arrested for drugs smuggling and going to jail for life and all because you didn't understand the concept of preserving your purchasing power over time"

I came here for advice, that's not advice, not sure what you would call that statement?

OK the professional, I make allowances because I see your a new poster. I take it you mean destitute in your post? Well had you read all the posts you would have read that my pension does increase each year, not by a fortune but a minimum of 2.5% and its capped at 7%. Its all based on the UK inflation rate each March. Also it has been mentioned by another poster that I get my government pension in 7.5 years, This will give me around another 30,000 a month. I have a nice sum sitting in the bank, this will be mainly used as retirement visa funds, plus a bit on top for any emergency. So as for rising costs this will happen to me here or anywhere else I choose to live. Now if I was back in the UK , I have no doubt I'd be still working, but here in Thailand, money goes a lot further.

At the moment I am trying to save my marriage, Its 50/50 if this will be successful, I have mentioned the reasons why I feel I need to give it a one more shot. To be fair life seems good here today, we are going on vacation Monday, and hopefully a few days away will do us both good. Will she remain nice, I'm not holding my breath. She does know I'm at the end of my patience with her, so its really down to her. Having done some homework, and some nice PM's and posts on here, I'm 100% confident that if things take a turn for the worse here, I'll survive and live a comfortable life in Pattaya.

Thanks for your concern and your inflation permutations, but regarding keeping up with all the possible inflation issues, I'm in the same boat as anyone else receiving a pension. Life is to short to keep worrying about "what if."

Well thanks to all the members who have taken the time to post. I have decided to give this marriage one last try. It all came to a head yesterday, and I'm hoping that things will now improve. She knows exactly where I stand now. We have a vacation booked for next Monday, so will be able to go away and chill for a while, without the pressure of the business to worry about.

Yesterday morning I decided to use the day to get everything ready, and leave today. I had made contact with a guy who had a nice apartment free. So I was ready to go. But a heart to heart, and putting everything on the table may have done the trick.

She knows I wont put up with any crap now, will this be a long term cure... Who knows. I feel in a good place today, so I will suck it and see. The end of the day for me, if it doesn't work out, I can know in my heart, I did my best and can walk away without that regret.

I do know that I wont hesitate to leave if she kicks off with me again. I have a very good friend in Pattaya who will put me up and help me find nice accommodation if I ever need to. So obviously I have that comfort in the back of my mind.

Also like to thank the members who have sent me PMs and the guys who offered their support and a meet up for a beer and a chat. I'll post now and again to let you know how things are going.

Happy New Year to you all

I don't get it, you have a loving and beautiful wife, a business and still complain ? Did she ever hurt you or is it only a bit of verbal abuse ?

I'm sitting on my own in my crappy room in pattaya and I can tell you being alone gets boring very quickly

Well I hope not to end up in a crappy room. The loving part 5% The no speaking 20% The verbal abuse 25% The throwing of things 10% Her never being wrong 20% Normal life 20%. So you want me to live like this ? Or in your eyes I have nothing to complain about ?

Thanks for all the useful replies. I'm not a big drinker ... In actual fact I don't drink from one week to the next. Obviously I do like a beer now and again, and I find when I haven't had a beer for a few weeks, I really enjoy it.

Sorry that statement sounds like I'm contradicting myself, Oh well I know what I mean

Like I have mentioned in an earlier post I feel a lot more confident now, regarding moving and having enough money.

Of course sod's law is she is as nice as pie now. We are going away for the New Year, so hopefully that will be OK. In the back of my mind I know its only a matter of time. I have sort of made my mind up that the next time she blows up with me, will be the last.

I'm really grateful for the positive posts, and glad I posted for the advice.

Merry Christmas & a Happy New Year to you all