dugdale

Thanks Blackcab,

Looks like I'll have to find a nominee as I'm in the UK and due to a few health issues probably won't be visiting Thailand again

Sorry if this is the wrong forum however it seemed the most relevant out of those available.

My Thai wife died in Thailand in 2008. Her death was not registered in the UK although she had lived in the UK for 9 years as I was told by my local registry office that as the death had been registered in Thailand there was no need for it to be registered in the UK. I have somehow misplaced the Thai death certificate and as I'm approaching an age where I might like to retire I will need the death certificate when I apply to take my company pension. Anyone able to offer any advice on how this can be obtained please.

I recently spent two nights at the Banlang Hotel in Tha Tum (http://www.banlang-hotel.com/). I only needed somewhere to sleep at night so found it adequate, no restaurant at the hotel but staff arranged for food to be delivered.

How big is the lake that this fish Was caught in ? is it open to the public and what do they charge to fish a lake like this ?

JB

All the info can be found here

I've just spotted this thread and I suppose it must be time for me to face the truth.

I'm 6 foot tall and weigh about 150 Kg, (not too sure of the exact weight as my scales don't go that high). I'd love to get down to 100Kg and I suppose there's no time like the present to start. If I were to lose 1Kg per week by this time next year I would have reached my target weight. Let's see if I can find some decent scales and I'll post again later.

Dugdale

Are people allowed to keep the fish they catch?

Are people allowed to keep the fish they catch?

No, they all go back unfortunately

Dugdale

I've stayed in the Bel-Aire Princess quite a few times and would cross it off your wish list. It is adequate for what I require but I wouldn't call it luxurious.

Out of the others on your list I have only stayed in The Sheraton Grande Sukhumvit (which was probably the nicest hotel I've ever stayed in, ever) which stands head and shoulders above The Bel-Aire Princess.

Dugdale

First let me apologise in advance incase this has already been suggested as I haven't had a chance to read through all the pages in this thread.

Just a thought How easy is it to get a second passport from a different country ? I know at one time certain countries allowed you to hold a passport from them for a certain fee (probably very expensive) but members with both Irish and English parents, or Australian and English etc might be entitled to hold passports from both countries. Use one for three consequitive visits then the other for the next three visits then start again with the first one.

Dugdale

I'm no expert on this subject at all however is the costing right ?

You plan to sell at about 26 Baht a litre and request the petrol stations to sell it at less than Diesel which is about 27.2 Baht a litre.

My initial thoughts are for this fuel to be attractive and to sell in a reasonable quantity it needs to be at least 1 baht per litre cheaper than diesel i.e. 26.2 Baht a litre. That equates to 20 satang per litre profit for the petrol station. What profit margin do they currently get per litre of diesel ? If it is more than 20 satang per litre why should they go to the trouble of selling your product when they are infact reducing their profit ?

I'm not wishing to knock your product just interested in your pricing policy.

Dugdale

Any discount if I manage to finish two of them brekkies

Dugdale

I stayed in The Ambassador in Feb of this year. We booked into the main wing (about 1200 Baht a night for double room with breakfast) and once in the room it was like staying in any other 1200 baht a night room. A bit dark, standard furniture and TV channels plenty of hot water and no roaches. The breakfast was superb, plenty of choice for all tastes.

The standard rooms in the main wing are about to be, or currently are being refurbished. Work hadn't started when we were there but there were plenty of notices apologising for any noise, disturbances etc.

If you need to stay on lower Sukhumwit then I would consider the Ambasador, however there are many, many other places available for a similar price so maybe shop around.

Hope this has been of some help to you.

Dugdale

We always stay in the Petchkasem Hotel in Surin and never had any problems with the steps, yes there are a few (maybe 10) outside and a further few inside (again maybe 10) but I see it as my daily excercise. The ramp that was mentioned is for the bellboy to push his trolley full of luggage up to the reception area however a number of years ago when my wife was in a wheelchair it came in very handy.

I agree that the breakfast can be hit and miss but if something is cold (like the fried eggs often are) there is always someone on hand to cook up some fresh ones.

Depending on how quick you walk The Farang Connection is less than five minutes walk away, Petchkasem Plaza a few minutes walk in the opposite direction and a nice ice cream shop more or less opposite the entrance to the hotel. For rail enthusiasts the hotel also offers rooms which allow you to hear train whistles in the early hours of the morning for no extra charge.

Dugdale

I've stayed in the Thipurai City and agree that the location is good, however the room was very small, and we'd paid extra for a larger room. The pool is on the roof and was small but OK. Breakfast was average. We won't be staying there again.

Dugdale

Thanks Lampard,

PM sent. most off the peg shirts are three foot too small around my waist

Dugdale

I'll be in Surin for five nights in Feb and am looking to have a few shirts made. I won't have time whilst in Bangkok hence me looking for a Surin Tailor. Does anyone have any recommendations please ? The tailor can have one of my shirts to copy if necessary (as I'm not looking for anything out of the ordinary) so doesn't need to be fluent in English however it would be nice if we could communicate the essentials (i.e. cost and completion day).

Thanks,

Dugdale

I paid 2,000 Baht for a taxi (Izuzu station wagon) from Hua Hin to Pattaya in August of this year. Took about 2 hrs to get to Bangkok where the driver stopped at a toll booth on the express way we were then transferred to another Izuzu for the drive Bangkok to Pattaya about two and a half hours if I remember correctly.

The two drivers were long time friends and explained that switching taxis midway is quite common.

Dugdale

Spoke to my travel agent (Trailfinders) this morning who informed me that they have been contacted by Phuket Air who are currently "revising their summer schedule" and are advising agents not to accept any new international bookings for this carrier.

Trailfinders are not yet informing passengers as they have not yet been told that the flights are to be cancelled. They have, however, held seats for me and my family on EVA (£500 more for the whole family) and Etihad (similar price) as a precaution.

They will contact all their passengers as soon as they have more information from Phuket Air.

Dugdale

Very strange indeed as last Friday I received a letter from my travel agent informing me that my LGW to BKK flight scheduled for July 30th had been put back one hour to 3pm.

I think a phone call is needed first thing in the morning.

Dugdale

I've only ever met one other farang in Rattana but it looks like there are a few more with ties (Thais) to that area.

My wife comes from Baan Mok Tao (translated to village where turtles are ate) which is a good 15 minutes drive from Rattana.

We only ever visit Rattana for shopping in the market, visiting the Amphoe for paperwork etc or visiting the bank so don't know it too well. What I do know is that the Kao Moo Daeng served in the restaurant near the Siam Commercial Bank is as good as I've had anywhere in Thailand.

We are visiting Thailand early August and will only have time to spend about one week in Isaan so won't be able to spend a great deal of time overseeing any small venture that we decide on so something easy to set up is what I'm probably looking for.

Crocodile farming is going to be a non starter I fear (I fear crocodiles) I'm not sure that the locals won't eat the rabbits as they eat rats from the rice fields. If they want them wild they can buy one, I'll release it and it's up to them to catch it

Dugdale

Thanks for all the replies, it's given me much to think about.

I think that the scanner for the photocopying is a definate "goer" small outlay with some paper and replacement cartridges (might go all the way and offer colour copying) all for less than 5000 baht.

I still fancy the noodle shop idea as the house has enough room to accomodate that and for less than 20,000 baht it won't break the bank.

The 12 rai that the family own is a bit of a distance from the house so maybe not too secure. There is a small pond which is emptied after the rice harvest and all the fish either eaten or sold (nothing of any size unfortunately). I like the idea of a frog farm (because it sounds fun) but I'm not sure if the frogs would be stolen if they weren't watched permanently.

The family do own a small plot of land in the village (87 talang wah) that I was planning to suggest that they use for growing vegetables (sweetcorn ?) however that could be utelised for the frog farm.

I was also thinking about rabbits = we all know that they reproduce quickly so I've got an idea that I could buy a couple of dozen and they would soon build up the quantity and sell them off for food.

Obviously these are all at the idea stage at the moment and may not all eventually happen but at least I've got a few ideas to take with me on my next visit.

Many thanks,

Dugdale

My first post so I'd better first introduce myself

Me 42 years old living in the UK.Wife 32 years, Thai and been resident in the UK for almost 6 years.

Here's my question

Over the last six years my wife has spent her own money on 12 rai of land (rice fields) and a small tractor type thing (mechanical buffalo) for her family in Surin (Amphoe Rattanaburi).

Together we have improved the family home to a sufficient level that I can spend time there on my annual visit and have bought two motorbikes for the family.

My wifes family consist of two brothers in their mid twenties, both married each with a young child, neither brothers drink much alcohol and both are hard working.

On our next visit to Thailand this July my wife wants to help them out again as there never seems to be enough money to keep the family going for 12 months.

Here is the question ..... What would you do if you had 200,000 baht to invest in a business in a small village in Isaan ? I would imagine that a profit of 200 baht a day would be sufficient. The village has a few small shops selling the basics etc and we don't want to step on anyones toes by muscling in on their territory. I was thinking of a small noodle shop which the sisters in law could run from the family home but don't know how much demand there would be in a village of about 100 houses.

Help a newbie out please and give me your suggestions, I might even get to buy you a Chang in August.

Cheers