SDM0712

I, being an American redneck, have never watched Top Gear. I might have to start as this fellow Clarkson seems like my kind of guy. On the up and up.

Billybob

We have a saying in the UK, "don't shoot the messenger ".

But as someone from a country who Clarkson has abused, I would be really interested in your comments on this. Are you insulted ?

SDM

PS the link didn't come out! Search for Top Gear US special Run out of Alabama

I, being an American redneck, have never watched Top Gear. I might have to start as this fellow Clarkson seems like my kind of guy. On the up and up.

You might not when you see the US special ! I'm amazed your State Department ever let him back in!

SDM

""And Bert and Ernie have suffered the same fate as Noddy and Big Ears - banned from publication."

And poor old Asterix the Gaul, the Robinson Gollywog, Rigsby no doubt if he were still on

I will be careful with this as I don't intend to go too far off topic or offend, my personal thoughts are just that at this point.

The tail can and does wag the dog at times. This morning I read a report that Subway Sandwiches in Britain will remove non-halal meat etc from 180 plus outlets because of objections from local Moslem communities.

Whatever happened to ' when in Rome ' ? I have been in Asia for 37 years and can't say i agree with all I see, hear and have to live with but there are ways of getting on with things.

I'm afraid Enoch Powell may have had a point. These Muslims are no less British then anyone else born there. They are gaining political and social power, so I'm afraid the "when in Rome" may mean quite correctly in the future that all UK meat is Halal, in addition to many other changes.

SDM

A lot of rapper made a ton of money off the back of that N-word. Also hip hoppin' on the concert stage and Cds cracka' and honkey this and whitey that. Italians are often wops, greaseballs, and guineas in movies.

Quite true, but maybe the majority membership of TV wouldn't be listening to a rapper. What if it was a superstar with over 100 movies to his credit, what if he said the N word on a regular basis (has modern society even made us nice folk afraid to say it?) Yep, Samuel L Jackson says this and related words in many of his blockbuster movies, he's not singing and old nursery rhyme, he is using these words as they were intended in referring to the people in the intended use. Unlike "slope" the meaning of the N word is undeniable and can only mean one thing. But no outcry. Is it because the actor is black himself, or because there is no rascist intent. Samuel uses it virtually in every sentence in some movies, but it nearly ruined poor old Emily's*life and got her thrown out of the BB house, why ? Was it because she was a rascist, or because she is a white person saying it to a black girl in jest, with no malicious intend.

Reginald D Hunter, a funny man who talks a lot of sense. On one show he said that because he is black many of his friends/acquaintances talk to him about rascist issues and he said one thing that made me think. A white chap said to him that he thought he had been rascist and wanted Reg's opinion. He was in a cinema and bumped into a black man, he said "sorry I didn't see you, it's dark ". He wanted to know if Reg thought this was rascist. Reg's replied "was there hatred in your heart when you said it". I think that is what is relevant.

Is Jeremy Clarkson rascist ? Samuel L Jackson ? Emily from Big Brother ?

It seems to me that the majority of people that get upset by these comments are in the white middle classes who have no connexion to those supposedly being insulted.

SDM

Are we going in a situation where you cannot cook your own food or sweep your rented condo or drive a car?

Sent from my iPhone using Thaivisa Connect Thailand

I saw these guys in Wat Chalong and it looked like a professional set up, the Chinese couple were in very formal dress and were having photos taken all over the temple. I think this is very different to a relative taking photos, even with decent kit.

SDM

PR ? Public Representation ?

Permanent resident

Thank you.

As a side issue I have been looking into PR (as I now know I it) and the cost is 90,000 plus the ability to pass a written test in Thai and attend an interview, also in Thai, Siam Legal also wanted 90,000 to deal with it on top of that, if indeed a lawyer is even necessary.

Regards

SDM

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Why would someone from India be offended by the word Slope?

She should be laughed out of court and be made to cook a curry for Jeremy Clarkson on his show.

Who the **** is she to be demanding that this fantastic British show be taken off the air!

I can't stand people like this !!!!

I'm pretty sure he will make up some joke about her on one of the future episodes.

And on that note does anyone know when they will be racing the new McLaren P1 against the Porsche 918 ? As a Porsche fan I'm hoping the 918 creams the P1 and Clarkson is forced to change his name to Jennifer as promised. He did eat his hair so I'm sure he will do it. Jennifer Clarkson.....it does have a ring to it.

SDM

PR ? Public Representation ?

...................................................... Having said that it is annoying the for some things, such as a driving licence the yellow book is not accepted as proof of address and a Certificate is required from immigration to prove this.

SDM

incorrect

Mike, as confirmed by Joe, it does seem to be the case in at least one other location. But, I agree with you. It annoys me because of course I have to pay a " fee" for the Certificate for Residency (or whatever it's called) and have a photo taken, usually also at Immigration. Also because I need two licences I need two original certificates and two sets of photos. I would far prefer to give them the yellow book I already have and pay nothing more.

Regards

SDM

PS - What is it we say ? "TIT" !

.................................... but in some circumstances if they are married to a Thai person then they can be registered on a family Tabien Bann book.............

As far as I know a Foreigner can never go into a Blue Tabian Ban that the Thai members of the family are in. If we can be registered on a Tabian Ban we get a seperate yellow book. I do remember reading a poster here said that he was on the Blue Book but when I mentioned this to a chap in our local Kathu Taisaban that I would like to go into the Blue book he laughed for an extended period and when he saw that it wasn't a joke just said " no".

SDM

Here in Ubon the drivers license office gives you a form to be signed by immigration (or the tourist police according one post I recall). Immigration here will not give you a residence certificate for a driver license because of this local policy.

They won't accept the Yellow Book either ?

SDM

Mike

If you are saying that the Driving Licence centre would accept my Yellow Book in place of a Certificate of Residence from Immigration I would love you to come to the Phuket Driving Centre with me and explain this to this staff there. I had quite a lengthy conversation on this exact point with one of my Thai staff acting as interpreter when I renewed my licence to be told that I needed the certificate. I agree with you, but sadly to no avail. Having said that how many times have we been given incorrect information by staff in these type of departments. But let's keep in touch and in five years you can come down with me, all expenses paid!

My comparison, although not completely accurate, give a very good sense of what the Tabien ban is, which is the question posed in the OP. I have given my answer in laymen's terms rather than a legal definition.

SDM

I'm not sure sure about Australia but in the UK the closest we would have to the Blue (for Thais) and Yellow (for non-Thais) house books ( Tabien Ban) would be a combination of the Voters register and council tax registration, although the yellow book gives foreigners no rights for voting and such like. As Mike says above it is incorrectly assumed by most foreigners that the Tabien Ban relates to ownership, it does not and it is quite possible that people have been caught out by this, but that's a whole other topic.

I think, as has been said, the best way to think about them is proof of address and often requested by banks and the like. Having said that it is annoying the for some things, such as a driving licence the yellow book is not accepted as proof of address and a Certificate is required from immigration to prove this.

SDM

PS Some Thais never update their Tabien Ban and remain listed at their parents house, or wherever they were previously registered. Not really relevant but many rented houses are purely in the owners name. It doesn't really matter in practice but can create problems if a Thai is not registered anywhere.

Speedtripler

I agree but have witnessed people being charged 3000 baht for a broken rear light lens that cost 350 baht, I know because I asked Honda the price, and that included fitting.

Let me qualify my post, if it's fairing, a broken light, something minor that can be replaced with an identical piece of plastic then I would do it. It's its anything involving something more serious then its back to the rental company.

SDM

I normally use Banana IT for anything like this. Never had a problem.

SDM

Any friends of mine who have knocks or scrapes I tell not to inform the rental company and just go to a dealer in the next town. If it's only fairing it's an easy and cheap fix.

SDM

It sounds to me like they were looking for something specific and like most police anywhere in the World are looking for behavior out of the ordinary. The out of ordinary part, in my opinion, is that you sound a regular smart and well dressed guy, near a road full of foreigners, and yet were on another smaller road not normally used by foreigners. Even if the UK if the police see something out of the ordinary they may very well ask questions and if they feel they have grounds do a search.

They say they were looking for bombs and guns and there are many problems in BKK right now caused by bombs and guns. You sound like you look nothing like a bomber, or assassin, or someone connected to hired kills or political movements, so really an ideal person to involved in any of these activities !

I remember the first time I used a Private Investigator in the UK, I was expecting Jim Rockford in a Camero (?) and ended up with Worzel Gummage in a Mini Metro. Got the job done though and Jim would have been spotted miles away.

In terms of what you could have done, "you're not in Kansas anymore", the right thing is to let them get on with it calmly and politely. Any non-compliance or aggressive behavior will get you banged up until you can get a lawyer down to the Police Station to sort it out, or worse.

SDM

Its lite hearted racism. The man has been doing it all his career. I wonder what he thinks of the french

I think his term for our cousins from across the Channel is " Garlic munchers", so I'm guessing he's not keen unless it's an affectionate nickname.

SDM

There is huge amount of buildings coming up near BIS. Seems like the whole are is turning to become a sub-urban neighborhood.

It's a nice spot but has become a major cut through for traffic from Kathu wanting to avoid the road works on the 402 past the mining museum.

SDM

.......... Land and House estate in Chalong might meet your needs. It has good security and a range of facilities (clubhouse/swimming pool etc). It's close to the prime shopping in southern Phuket (Home Pro Village, and the new large Tesco Lotus), and has a few places close by for a beer/meal. You're on the doorstep of Chalong Bay (and the pier) where much of the diving and sport fishing industry is centred.

Chalong has an extensive range of restaurants, from Thai to most other popular cuisines. There are also sports facilites and gyms close by.

I don't live at Land and House, and I'm not a property agent.

There are a few Land & House developments in and around Chalong in various price ranges.

The security issue is an interesting one as most security gated stations wave any farang though with a smile without asking anything, but the newer Land & House developments actually do stop me to sign in (and out), retain some photo ID and take my car registration number in addition to the CCTV recording it. They do this even though I am there quite frequently so do know me.

Some of the new private roads are installing unmanned key entry barriers with CCTV which I think is a much better system. The system can log the electronic key used and record all car plates, it is a pain though if you have visitors without a card as they can't get in without one.

SDM

I think it's a great lesson for the OP. He should kjnow that everyone one, including foreigners, on Phuket, is "working an angle."

Thank you for this, it gives me a chance to respond and make a few observations.

Thai Visa is a great site, it brings many people together to share their experiences and knowledge. It also attracts some people who have a little bit of knowledge but want to have some input, the so called armchair/barstool experts. It is true that I comment on many property matters and to qualify my opinion I state that I am an agent, so what I say is based on knowledge and experience as without this my comments really have little value and are just a baseless opinion. I would have thought, in the same way that we have lawyers here to make comments on legal issues, that similar comments from an experienced real estate agent would be welcomed. Anyone who does not wish to read what I have to say has the facility to block me, and I suggest that they do.

However as far as me "working an angle" that is an uncalled for comment. I own a very successful agency in a successful part of London that keeps me very well, and really only set up here because I was bored and stunned at the sharp practices shown by agents here. I bring standards that are expected as a legal necessity to somewhere with little regulation.

You and I have had issues before so I suggest you block me.

Regards

SDM

Our whole family will be moving overseas. So we won't have anyone to keep an eye on it. So does that mean we must use an agent? Would an agent at least collect rent and deposit it in our account? And would they do inspections like they do in the west?

Really you need someone, if not an agent then trustworthy friend or family member, to take care of problems that arise from time to time, minor repairs that kind of thing. Also rent collection, deposit administration, inventories, check in and outs etc.

We are an agent, and I strongly advise that if you are shopping around for agents ask if they have a Client Bank account for Client money. It seems a common problem here that agents just use one bank account for all the money they hold and I often here about problems being caused by agents not returning deposits etc. The main reason is that when they mix trading money with client money mistakes can occur and they end up overspending. When I opened here I found it very hard to explain to my bank why I needed two accounts for the same company, ie one for company money and one for client money. In the UK that is the way we all must operate, but it's a bit different out here !

Regards

SDM

If you use an agent they will do the bare minimum effort for the maximum commission and fees.

Please don't tar us all with the same brush !!

SDM

doubt 15,000 will get u a 3 bedroom house anywhere on the island.

plenty of gated communities around golf courses but for a 3 bedroom ur looking at 40-60,000

Never lived in one,never would

Depends on area and style.

Around Thalang, Paklok and the north of the island properties in this price range are readily available, mainly in the more Thai orientated communities.

SDM