Oscar2

Did they start allowing the 90 day reporting be done by mail again as I thought it was discontinued some time ago?

it was only discontinued for a very short period of time, like 3 or 4 months. i only had to make that horrific journey once - maybe twice before they started back up again.

A horrific journey and you can't remember if you did it once or twice.

Doesn't sound to bad to me. I would rather make the trip than sit and wait two weeks and wonder if the application was received or did I do some thing wrong. to each their own

sounds like you are a real scholar. there is such a thing as 'tracking' in 2014. you go waste your time. i don't have the time to waste.

I mailed mine last Friday afternoon (15th - 2pm) from the Phra Singh Post Office...

EMS showed delivery to Immigration on Monday the 18th at 10am...

Postal guy hand delivered the return EMS with my stamped 90 day reporting on Wednesday the 20th to my house...

I would recommend paying the extra 30 baht for return EMS tracking...

Then all of this can be seen thru the EMS tracking website too...

http://track.thailandpost.co.th/tracking/default.aspx

PS my house is in Suan Dok a stones throw from immigration - so being in the city is no problem

PSS I used the english text on the envelope as described in the pinned post (as well as english text for my return address)...

The post office are a very professional bunch and had no problem understanding english

actually, EMS is much slower (and more expensive) than rong tabien - registered, because it has to go to Lamphun first, then come back to Chaing Mai. Registered goes straight to your destination.

I mailed mine last Friday afternoon (15th - 2pm) from the Phra Singh Post Office...

EMS showed delivery to Immigration on Monday the 18th at 10am...

Postal guy hand delivered the return EMS with my stamped 90 day reporting on Wednesday the 20th to my house...

I would recommend paying the extra 30 baht for return EMS tracking...

Then all of this can be seen thru the EMS tracking website too...

http://track.thailandpost.co.th/tracking/default.aspx

PS my house is in Suan Dok a stones throw from immigration - so being in the city is no problem

PSS I used the english text on the envelope as described in the pinned post (as well as english text for my return address)...

The post office are a very professional bunch and had no problem understanding english

How many days did you mail it in before you were scheduled to report? I read it needs to be sent in 15 days prior to the report date at http://www.immigration.go.th/nov2004/en/base.php?page=90days but the date is November 2004.

i usually send mine in about 4 days before it's due. you can do it 2 weeks before or a week after the due date; or any time in between.

While we're on the topic, would someone be kind enough to post the mailing address for the Chiang Mai office?

ตรวจคนเข้าเมืองจังหวัดเชียงใหม่

71 หมู่ที่ 3 ตำบลสุเทพ อำเภอเมือง

จั.เชียงใหม่

50200

Allow me to re-phrase the question: while we're on the topic, would someone be kind enough to post the mailing address for the Chiang Mai office in English?

cut and paste what i sent you. that is the correct address. likely it won't get there if you don't send it addressed in Thai language.

OP, was the return envelope registered mail?

No, the return envelope just had a 5 baht stamp as suggested in the pinned topic here. But if I ever try mailing again I will register the return envelope too. So far I still haven't received the slip. Will update if/when it arrives or I have to go to Immigration on Tuesday.

you need to register the return. they will give you a year's supply (4) of register post stickers at the P.O. you need a 16 Baht stamp.

While we're on the topic, would someone be kind enough to post the mailing address for the Chiang Mai office?

ตรวจคนเข้าเมืองจังหวัดเชียงใหม่

71 หมู่ที่ 3 ตำบลสุเทพ อำเภอเมือง

จั.เชียงใหม่

50200

Did they start allowing the 90 day reporting be done by mail again as I thought it was discontinued some time ago?

it was only discontinued for a very short period of time, like 3 or 4 months. i only had to make that horrific journey once - maybe twice before they started back up again.

been doing this for years. sent mine about 5 days ago - got the return today. used to take about 35 days but now it is lightening quick.

did you check the tracking on the return?

Hi Wopanese,

I never heard of Taco Time and I spent 10 years on the west coast but left 25 years ago. Maybe after my time. I remember Del Taco and there was a more upscale chain called El Torito. I don't know if they still exist. Changing the subject a little I always liked In and Out Burger!!!

Where I live now, when I go back to the states, there are a lot of Taco Bells but when I want to step up there's a more upscale chain called Rocco's Tacos! Great overall Mexican food and GREAT Margaritas!!! There's nothing like a good margarita with good Mexican food!!!

Del Taco and El Torito are indeed still going strong in California, but as a longtime Californian, I would suggest that what these big chains offer is far from real Mexican food. It might be tasty to gringos (as the Mexicans like to call us white folks) but it 's far from the authentic Mexican food you find south-of-the-border and at some of the better Mexican restaurants in LA. It reminds me of the old Cantonese Chinese restaurants in the US. We called it "Chinese Food" but it was far from the kind of food you might enjoy in Hong Kong. Strictly tailored to American palates. As for the Margaritas - well, after a couple of them...

true but the old Cantonese Chinese restaurants in California from the 1950's-1980's were like nothing else. some of them were absolutely fantastic. combined with a great bar and great hosts they beat the pants of anything in Hong Kong.

Like many of the other people who have posted in this thread, I also live near Maya Mall and I also wonder why there isn't even one single decent western restaurant in the complex. On the 3rd floor of Maya there seems to be an Iraqi restaurant under construction, but that's been going on for a while now with no visible signs of opening any time soon. Perhaps Maya is where the Mexican restaurant is going to open (that would be appropriate, wouldn't it?)? Will they have a Thai mariachi band strolling around serenading the diners? I've got a good name for the place, "Señor Somchai's". Anyone else have a creative name for a Mexican restaurant in Chiang Mai?

the Mexican joint "Baja Joes" will be at Promenada, not Maya. an Iraqi or other Middle Eastern restaurant will be a welcome addition to a mall.

good one mate you will find many threads from this clan trying to get free advertising next one i let you guess

i believe "this clan" pays for the advertising.

You do not need keys for those 109 baht lock sets. They can be opened by a 10 year old with a bent paper clip in a few seconds.

109 Baht? We put a Hafele (German brand) lock on one of the properties and even at 720 Bath it's not that good quality.

Tested out Steak Doctor yesterday night with a couple of friends. The restaurant itself was very nice and the staff were polite. We all bought tenderloin steak with french fries and the food was very tasty! It was served with fresh salad as well (they grow it in the garden).

But.. the portion size.. :/ my steak was about 1cm thick, my guess is <140 grams. My friends got slightly thicker steaks but still pretty small. The french fries seemed to be mostly for decoration, as I could count about 6 of them on each plate.

So not worth it imo, unless you can afford to buy 2 meals for yourself or are a 40kg lady.

we were taken to the Steak Doctor by some Thai friends recently. can't recommend it. no one in our party ordered the beef but the salmon, chicken and pork steaks were just O.K. all pan-fried from what i could see (and not in a blazing hot, cast-iron skillet) . we had some appetizers and beer, and the meals, we ran up a very healthy tab. having said that; the owners and staff could not have been nicer and the beer was so cold it was part frozen which was nice.

Mr. Bag fix on Hang Dong Road. http://www.mrbagfix.com/

 

Aji Japanese Restaurant at MAYA's Rimping is very good.  Thanks for the heads-up Dave.

 

I agree. Also the food is interesting, with some unusual items

 

there has been some reports lately from members who have dined there and had positive experiences in the past that something has changed and food is no good anymore. it's been about 6 or more weeks since i was there last. has anyone been in the last couple of weeks? any changes?
 

Quite obviously CM real estate is a bubble. Why would those who have already invested (via their wives or other means) proclaim otherwise? If they did not feel it was a bubble, they would keep silent and snatch up all these good values for themselves. No, they want to create demand to drive up the price of their assets.

Perhaps they want to unload now, before strict enforcement of ownership laws starts to take place. I know I would.

+1

As usual,the replies to the OP have gone way off topic and discussions of the condo market have over taken the housing market situation in the OP.

To return to the housing market situation and it's effects on prices is a depressing subject to me as a seller. So much inventory of 2nd hand houses and not enough real buyers. Lots of lookers that just want a free ride from the hungry agents and a chance to pry into other peoples lives with no intention of buying.

I think that would be normal in a situation like we have at present......... The lowest of the low rainy season during a politically unstable period which may [or may not] pass, but I would definitely be reluctant to bring my $$ or whatever currency into this uncertain atmosphere and it seems that a lot of us are bailing out for whatever reasons.

The smart ones rent and will wait until the dust settles, but this bubble has got to burst at some point.

Being a potential condo buyer in near future I am reading these posts with great interest and the statement "... a lot of us are bailing out ..." is quite startling. Where do you get this from ... is it based on fact or heresay?

just take a look at how many second-hand condominiums there are for sale. many people dump them for less than they paid for them just to raise some cash and move on. in the future many potential buyers won't qualify for a visa under the new rules.

Are we going to count the Indians as people?

Absolutely despicable post, although unfortunately typical of this poster's pathetic contributions to this forum over the past several months.

How vile sentiments such as this are allowed to stand unchallenged in a public forum frequented by purportedly civilized folks is frankly beyond me.

he's a racist. doesn't like blacks, Jews, Indians, Africans, Mexicans....and not ashamed of posting a KKK video.

Where is I Am Gourmet located? Do they make....burgers?

Just past Bor Hin going towards Doi saket there is a big sign outside they are on the road. Yes they do burgers fairly average but as I mentioned in a previous post very cheap.

just passed by there about 4 days ago and was going to stop in as the name sounded interesting. it looked like a typical Thai restaurant out in the sticks but with a falang name. i looked, then gave it a pass and went to the Jiang franchise on the opposite side of the road further down. it was spotlessly clean.

canned air sold at most computer supply shops. AMorn used it have it but have not seen it there in many months. expect to pay between 150-190 Baht for a small can.

McCormick Hospital has nothing to do with it. Anyone can be treated there and there are plenty of Buddhists (probably 60-70% of the patients) and everyone pays the same.

 

 

i would say it's more like 80-90% of patients at McCormick are Buddhist's. it's a popular place for the health plans many Thai companies offer their employees.  they do not have any religious practices there that i know of. been there a number of times.

Condos and shopfronts are a disaster waiting to happen.

So many empty unsold units something's got to happen.

Well, they're not very attractive if far out, but not sure why they would be a disaster. A rich family acquired that land next to a ring road, and decided to spend a couple million to build one or two blocks of shophouses. Which don't sell. But they don't care, it's not like they need the money in a hurry.

However, compare this to a shophouse downtown, no matter how old, and then I'm highly interested. They're quite versatile buildings that you can do anything with.

except of course have any form of greenery around. so no garden. basically commercial space unless you are comfortable being surrounded by nothing more than concrete (which many people are). also the guy in the unit next to you could be mixing up hazardous chemicals or.......

I agree that there are many sub markets in Chiang Mai split by geography, price and housing type. But a major correction in the market will drive all segments down but at differing rates. The condo market could hold up a little better because of the higher percentage of foreign buyers. Those markets that have the highest leverage will suffer most. Part of my concern began when I visited several housing developments (non-condo) that we requiring only 50,000 baht down on 3 to 4 million baht properties.

That 50k down is most likely just the amount required to hold the property until you try and get financing from a bank.

I don't know about now but in the past many places had a 5,000 baht deposit and then you made payments for a couple of years just to build up the required down payment the banks required.

Exactly, Wolf'. This gives good insight into the knowledge of the market by some. 50,000 won't get you a lease on a 3-5 million THB property, if you are paying two months deposit plus first months rent. Could probably be enough "key money" for a deceased AIDS patient's Hillside 4 studio. It's part of a strict schedule of payments that will get you 20% down, and you will have to come up with the other 80% plus transfer fees, when it is completed. I can't remember the last time I saw a builder offering financing here....maybe never....they might have a preferred lender; but they aren't giving a farang a mortgage. Some will send you to a Singapore Bank, and it is way tougher than the US. You will need a large downpayment and verifiable current employment income. It is also illegal to have a mortgage past age 65 in Thailand.

Every thing can be fixed with a developer who wants to sell, and their contact in a Thai bank.

Home loan (90%) with falsified employment details (as in no employment at all), totally doable.

that is exactly what caused the global financial crisis which began in December 2007! "sub-prime loans" were based on this exact same process.

Shoe size looks like size 8 or bigger to me = ruckin great big MF spider!

That was my impression at first too but looked closer and he is holding it above ground a bit giving a perspective of appearing larger than it is. Still a large one and does appear to be a tarantula of sorts.

Yes I see now. The wood appears to be used as some sort of tongs to lift it up. Interesting to see if it is the same species that bit (and eventually) killed that poor buggah in Phrae recently.

If you read a bit deeper into the story of the guy that allegedly died of a spider bite in Phrae recently, you will find he died from Gangrene or similar, because his family called in the witch doctor instead of taking him to hospital.

i saw an example on the news of the spider that bit the guy in Phrae. it was a small spider, brown with unusual spots on its body that were not uniform. strange looking spider. never seen another one like it. yes he died of gangrene.

One thing the price of land will never go down,thats 100% certain,

uhhhh...no.....that is not correct. nothing is ever 100% certain. real estate is cyclical. goes up and then goes down.

Maybe in the West ,but this is Thailand,and the price of land never

comes down.

regards Worgeordie

"this is Thailand,and the price of land never comes down."

LOL keep dreaming. never say never....