watgate

My g/f and her daughter and myself stayed in the old city and went to see the puppet show one evening while we were in Hanoi. Vietnam is known for their puppet show and it was very entertaining. It is about an hour long and they have shows throughout the evening. It is reasonably priced and the venue is very nice also. We were pleasantly surprised and enjoyed the performance.

It is hard to ascertain the thought processes of thai immigration officials and other government bureaucrats but maybe one of the unintended consequences with the new immigration requirements of 800k thb in a bank or 65k thb going into a thai bank each month is that now retirees will have funds in the event they require costly medical care. With the old income affidavit method undoubtedly a lot of individuals did not have sufficient funds in the event they needed medical care. With the problems the above poster is having with substantially rising health care premiums with no apparent justification other then price gouging one wonders if the thai officials who implement new policies knew that cases such as the one being experienced by the poster as well as many retirees currently residing in thailand who have pre-existing conditions, that practically speaking ,if new mandates were created for mandatory healthcare for retirees then a mass exodus would result due to the inability to afford  or  obtain adequate health care coverage. I know this is somewhat of a stretch but hopefully the powers to be who make the new rules or laws will understand the dynamics at play here and if new health care mandates are forthcoming then hopefully their will be a way for many retirees who have pre-existing health conditions or have to deal with the juggernaut of ever increasing health care premiums will be able to obtain health insurance in order to satisfy any possible health care requirements for their retirement visa.

Today 1/14/19 Khon Kaen had an AQI of 834 which is dangerously off the charts. Does anyone know why their air is so dreadfully unhealthy today?

Today 1/14/10 Khon Kaen had an AQI reading of 834 which is off the charts. Does anyone know why the air is so dangerously polluted there today?

Since I still own a car in the US I am wondering if I can still obtain auto insurance with a thai license when I go back to the US each year for a month or so. Since I still also own a condo in the US I take it I can probably renew my current drivers license when it expires since I would have the prerequisite documentation to renew my license in the US. I am still exploring the feasibility of using a thai license because I would have to go back later in the year to renew my drivers license since you can only renew 6 months before it is due to expire. Also, I would have to find someone to prepare my income taxes since I wouldn't be going back to July. If I can use a thai drivers license then I can go back the beginning of April and not have to find a tax preparer. I also would not have to go later in the year back to the US since I would not be renewing my drivers license.

I want to get a thai drivers license and my State in the US says it can be used up to a year but if it is in a language other then english or spanish the license must be accompanied  by an International Drivers Permit (IDP) which serves as an English translation of the international license. Any idea where one can obtain an International Drivers Permit in Chiang Mai? The IDP permit can only be obtained in the country which issued the actual license. I am not sure if I can renew my current US drivers license when it expires therefore I am looking at alternatives so I can drive in the US each year when I go back for a couple of months.

I need to see a lawyer about drawing up a simple will or a probate document to ensure my g/f gets my bank acct and not the government. Can anyone recommend a competent lawyer who charges a reasonable fee?

I entered Thailand by air from Vietnam on Oct 10, 2109 so was due for a 90 day report at immigration on Jan 7 2019. I went to immigration on Jan 2, 2019 to do my 90 day report. I was given a slip which said I have to do another 90 day report again on April 1, 2019. I am questioning this because I thought the 90 days would begin again from the actual day I was supposed to report initially which would have been Jan 7, 2019, which going out 90 days would have meant I didn't have to report again to immigration until April 6, 2019. It might be moot since I am due to depart back to the US on April 1, 2019 so my 2 questions are should I have been give a new report date of April 6, 2016 based on the above scenario and secondly, since I am scheduled to depart from Chiang Mai back to the US on April 1, 2019 I am thinking that I wouldn't have to report on April 1 to immigration to do my 90 day report on April 1. Is that correct?

I was wondering what other folks do to try and minimize the amount of bad air from entering their abode from the outside? Do you have an air conditioning unit that you use with an air filter system? If so, how often do you have to change the filters in the a/c and air filter machine? What about when it is cooler at night and there  is no need for the a/c to be on. Do you open up your windows to let fresh air in and do you still use your air  filter with the window(s) open? Currently, I am living in a thai apt complex with just a screened door to the outside and no windows. I have a ceiling fan, as well as a couple of free standing fans also. I was wondering if I position one of my free standing fan against the screen door and blow the air out of my room,as well as use the ceiling fan to cool off and use an air filter machine to clean the air in my room how effective would this be? Would it help the quality of the air in my room at night or would the fact that I have the screen door open negate any significant improvement in the quality of the air in my room?

First off thanks for all the replies. i do appreciate your input and info. I have my work cut out for me. When I mentioned relocating to Pattaya I didn't mean right in the city because I know it is a dump and I am not interested in most of what it has to offer.  As a poster stated, and I agree, there basically 5 areas of Thailand that are suitable for a farang and the general Pattaya area is one of them. I have my work cut out for me because I need to get down to the Pattaya area and now I have a sh--load of places to check out such as Naklua/Wong Amat, the Darkside ( Soi Khao Taio/ Soi Khao Noi), Jomtien, Bang Saraym Hua Hin, Bang Saen, Samrolyod Beach, Bang Saray/Sattahip, and Rayong (Ban Chang) all of which are greek to me. 

     Other then Phuket which has very clean air but is definitely to pricey for me, it seems that most other places are going to have some moderately unclean air but I like the fact that hopefully if one is near the ocean then hopefully the sea breezes will help disperse the air so that it is relatively clean most of the time. 

     It is important to be near a hospital or a reasonably priced lab because since I am on coumadin (blood thinner) i  need to go for periodic blood work to check my INR levels.I have a great hospital lab I go to in Chiang Mai for testing and it is very reasonable. I also am eating primarily vegetarian now with a little pork or egg or chicken occasionally to get some protein. Chiang Mai has many vegetarian restaurants so it makes it very easy to eat vegetarian dishes.

     I am also entertaining the possibility if I get overwhelmed with trying to relocate to the Pattaya area is to stay in Chiang Mai BUT get the heck out of the middle of the city and away from the countless tuk-tuks, songtaews, Large buses, vans, motorcycles that are spewing all sorts of foul air on a daily basis. I would want to find a place outside the City and more in the country where I can get an air purifier for my new place. Right now I am living in a very cheap thai apt complex in one room and my that g/f is living with her daughter in another room under me. The thai apt complex has no a/c which I am not a big fan of but buying an air purifier would be impractical now due to the configuration of the apt complex and the need to keep the windows and screened porch door open to get air. Also when it is hot you need to use the ceiling fan as well as other fans to be comfortable. Also, and this is key, I would leave Chiang Mai when the burning season starts, unlike what I didn't do for the past 9 years until I departed back to the US usually the end of March. Thai year myself and my g/f are going to be getting the f--- out of here when the out of control burning starts and lasts for several months.

     So, as in life I have choices and a decision to make going forward. I am in excellent health due to exercising on a daily basis but getting a bout of bronchitis finally woke me up to the fact that I have to become proactive to deal with the pollution problem in Chiang Mai. Another poster stated and I kinda agree that Chiang Mai is decent 8- 9 months a year providing you get out of the middle of the City but come the burning season it is definitely time to get out of dodge. Excuse my lengthy posting but I felt it prudent to let those posters who have given me some great info and advice some background of my time in Thailand these past 9 years.. Thanks again for all the great replies and helpful info. I also knew most posters on thai visa have your back and it is nice to know there is a forum to go to for help or answers.

Thank you to all the posters who have given me some great and valuable info. I am very encouraged by the feedback and now feel confident that, if I do my due diligence, I will eventually find a place to my liking with relatively decent air and near enough to medical and shopping facilities.

Now that I am experiencing some lung issues due to the poor air quality in Chiang Mai I have to find another place to live for the 8- 10 months that I typically am staying in Thailand. This year I arrived the middle of May and am due to depart Thailand the end of March. Also, this year will be the first where I am going to be leaving the Chiang Mai area once the burning season starts up. In your opinion or based on your experiences are their any places in Thailand to live where you can be reasonably assured that the air quality is satisfactory and not injurious to one's health? Thanks for any input or advice. 

Now I am really confused and concerned. You have a poster, moonseeker stating that the air is horrendous in the Pattaya area and he underwent major lung surgery. It sounds like leaving Chiang Mai for Pattaya is like going from the frying pan into the fire. Are their any places in Thailand where the air is decent and you won't ruin your lungs?  

I am glad Spidey said to discount Fredob43 about the smog because that is the main reason we are leaving chiang mai. The air has started to bother me their with the great increase in traffic and all the songtaews and tuktuks spewing exhaust. Chiang Mai is in a bowl and the mountains have a tendency to keep the foul air lingering. Also, the burning season is approaching and the air will be horrid for several months with all the out of control burning being done by the farmers throughout the north.

     As for my initial posting, yes I have to admit it was a lot to ask and am appreciative of all the information I have received so far. I really am flying blind about Pattaya and the surrounding areas and other then  the one visit I had 44 years ago while on R/R I have never been back to Pattaya since.

     Thanks again for all the information and hopefully I can make an informed decision as to where best to reside with my g/f. We also most likely will rent somewhere and start to look around if we can't decide on a place beforehand but all the info I have received will definitely make it easier.

madmen

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I will be relocating to the Pattaya area and am trying to get as much info as possible before my departure. I will coming with my thai g/f and she also knows very little about Pattaya and the surrounding area.  I don't much about the area. I know there is Jomtien and chonburi but have no idea where they are in proximity to each other. Ideally I would like to find a reasonably priced place away from the madness of Pattaya. I also need to find a hospital or a clinic where I can go for periodic testing of my blood to check my warfarin (INR) levels. I currently have a very convenient and very reasonably priced place in Chiang Mai and hope to find something  similar,not too far from where I will be residing, in the Pattaya area. Any suggestions for places to look at or areas to check out would be most appreciated. If someone could give a brief description of the layout of the Pattaya area and which areas are considered desireable versus not so desireable would also be appreciated. My g/f and myself are not big party goers and just would like to have some relatively fresh air and an opportunity to start to explore some of the southern part of Thailand and its coastline and beaches, as well as some of the islands. We would also like to go to Bangkok and see some of the City over time. Any info or advice would be most appreciated as we make plans to eventually move. Thank you.

   hmficc- You say fine outside of chiang mai. How far outside of chiang mai would you suggest?                                                                                                                                                             

I realize their already is a topic for smoke and pollution but decided to post here to try and get some immediate feedback concerning the current situation of smoke and pollution in chiang mai. I have been experiencing problems with my breathing this year in chiang mai and it started about 1 month ago. I have been coming here for the past 9 years and arrived this year in May. This is the first year where it has hit me hard and I finished off a course of antibiotics and other assorted meds about 1 month ago and I was feeling better. Now, again I am coughing and spewing up stuff from my lungs and most likely have developed another infection in my lungs. I am concerned about long term effects of the lack of air quality in chang mai and the detrimental effects in has on your lungs and breathing. A guy at the gym I go to who has only been in chiang mai for a few weeks has told me he is having problems with his breathing and can smell smoke. He also said other farangs in the hotel where he is staying are also experiencing problems with their breathing. I always thought the air started to deteriorate in January due to the burning and it gets progressively worse as the burning intensifies and the end of January and February and March are very bad due to all the burning that is going on in Thailand and SE Asia. My g/f is trying to tell me to go get some meds at a pharmacy and I will feel better in a few days but I am thinking that this is only masking the problem and not dealing with the root cause of my breathing problems. I guess if I had a car and lived in a place with a/c  and spent a lot of time in a/c  malls you could maybe escape some of the pollution but then you would be a captive to the pollution. I have always enjoyed coming to chiang mai to spend time with my g/f but am worried about ruining my health due to this incessant pollution in chiang mai. Is the air quality bad now in chiang mai? I am having to reconsider my future plans going forward and am thinking of  going to Isan for a couple of months to get away from this air pollution. I was wondering what other folks think and if they are experiencing any health related problems associated with the air quality in chiang mai?

These are some of the performers at the best Cabaret show in Chiang Mai. It is called the 6ixcret Show and the small cabaret establishment is located across the street from Pantip Plaza. If you want to see a great show which will leave you energized and feeling great then you have to go see the show. The performers are all high energy and really enjoy performing and interacting with the audience. Admission is free and you have to buy 2 drinks anywhere from water to juice to beer or mixed drinks. Unlike another cabaret show in chiang mai where you are aggressively confronted for tips, at this cabaret show the customer service is impeccable. I can't emphasize enough how great the show is and, if by some remote chance it wasn't for you, all you will be out is a little amount of money. I have gone several times and each time the audience has overwhelmingly loved the show so do yourself a favor and go see the show. You won't be disappointed. By the way, I have no financial interest in this show and am only posting this because I have seen how hard the performers work and they really love performing in front of an audience.

In a worse case scenario, If the World's central banks had another financial crisis and resultant financial implosion, what effects would that have on one's investments? Since it would appear that going forward, expat retirees are going to have to place funds in a Thai bank for retirement purposes, would their be any possible risk to the deposited funds in a Thai bank if the worse case scenario came to fruition? As for one's personal investing philosophy have you positioned yourself and your investments against another financial implosion or are not too concerned about events going forward and may be on the sidelines waiting for the appropriate time to  re-enter the stock market? I am just curious about one's financial tolerance and what their risk tolerance is in these uncertain times?  

Since the old event was free and was so spectacular I thought it was only fair to purchase a Kom Loy inside the venue to benefit the Buddhist organization for holding such a fabulous and breathtaking event. I guess there were always some cheap charlies who would attend for free and then buy a kom loy outside the venue at a cheaper price. I figured the least I could do was show some appreciation for the free event by giving the Dharma Society some  business. Also, by releasing a kom loy outside the venue you missed a lot of the great experience of releasing a kom loy with your loved ones, inside the venue, surrounded by the multitudes all doing the same. It was truly a magical and surreal experience and one that is forever etched in ones mind.

If you wanted to release a Kom Loy at the now discontinued free event at Mae Jo you had to purchase a Kom Loy inside the venue. You couldn't buy one outside and bring it in to the event. The good ole days when you could attend an amazing spectacle for free unlike now where you have to shell out big bucks.

I am so glad I had the chance to go to several of the magnificent lantern releases at Mae Jo when they were still free and uncommercialzed. All you had to do was spend 100 baht for a Kom Loy and you entered the venue and were in a magical surrounding replete with many colorful garbed monks and huge throngs of folks all there to marvel at the festivities. Unfortunately, like most things in Thailand, money takes precedence and the powers to be saw an opportunity to turn the once free festivities into a lucrative enterprise.