jay-uk

Hi All

I would like to hear from anyone who knows of insurance providers in UK and/or Thailand offering expat family health insurance policies that may have provision to include an existing condition. My wife and I have disabled son who cannot get insured for living in Thailand only a current basic multi-trip policy from Barclays. The obvious two companies in Thailand BUPA Bluecross and Royal Sunalliance have indicated that they would not cover my son's existing condition but would cover us as a family for anything else. This makes living in Thailand a non-starter for us and as a result we can only travel for 45-60 days at a time for holidays on the multi-trip policy. In a few years hopefully we would like to look at living for a minimum of six months at a time in North East Thailand but could not do so unless cover could be established first. If anyone could point us in the right direction or have had similar experiences of providers offering a more flexible view on insurance matters then please let us know. Thanks.

Jay

Hi All

Here a photo of my Toyota Vigo. It's very comfortable to drive and there is no lag from the engine since the introduction of the commonrail diesel injection system. Surprisingly powerful for a diesel overall. The only drawback is the 4 wheeldrive system which pulls a little on the steering when on full lock and mines a manual so it makes your left leg hurt after a while in heavey trafic. However, get it out of the town and its a lot of fun.

Since buying it last April'05 I haven't had much chance to use it. My son's health and work committments have had me spending most my time in the UK. Its garaged and locked up from the in-laws for the time being.

Jay

Staffs. UK

Hi All

The details for the Ubon travel agent are as follows:

Kangwal office on Chayunkun Road in Ubon Ratchathani city

KANGWAL HOLIDAY Co.,Ltd. 281 – 3 Chayangkool Rd., Muang, UBONRATCHATHANI 34000

(UBONRATCHATHANI BRANCH) Tel.0-4525-5200 (Auto) Fax.0-4525-5565 www:kangwal.com E-mail:[email protected]

I can highly recommend them as I have used this agent twice when in Ubon myself. Very professional service and english speaking staff.

Contact Nittaya the Manager she is very helpful.

Regards,

Jay

Thaibites

Thanks for the photos.

Regards,

Jay

Thaibites

Your right about the land prices at the moment. My wife and I purchased 3 rai for 1.5million baht three years ago 50 yards off the the chayangkul road. We have been told since it has gone up to 800,000 per rai and we've already had two passers by asking if they could buy a plot from us. Just hope the bubble doesn't burst too soon. We've got another 5 rai in the village back in Siskaket which has not risen in price at all but that's a different story it cost virtually nothing to buy.

Jay

The land I refer to is further out of town just past the recycling bottle factory on the right hand side of the dual carriageway and opposite the government housing projects. If you carry on after the governemnt housing for another five minutes by car (a couple of kms) there is also a small market as you leave town on the left. I think I know the land you have photographed and I think the one you mention is close to the 7/11 oposite side. Thanks guys for the input.

Jay

Thanks for taking the initiative and going to take a look. If you find out anything it would be great as our second home is not far away. I think and hope it is the shopping mall rumour tha's the most acurate because of the reaction of the locals discussing land prices etc in the area.

Dear All,

Its just oposite the new government housing projects. There must be 500+ houses recently built and the land nearly opposite on the other side of the Chayangkul Rd has been cleared for something. We were told it was a supermarket recently by the locals, but i've also heard car lot, christian church! strangely enough, market and a story about a builders merchant. However, i'm back in UK at the moment and cannot get a clearer picture of what is proposed for that area. You can't miss it, conservatively there is 50+ rai where soil has been dropped & levelled. Any news keep me posted. Thanks.

Jay

Also... if anyone knows what is going on just next to Ban Na Udom (direction amphur muang sansip just leaving the city, as there is a lot of soil (50+ rai) been dropped. Is this where the new Carefour supermarket is rumoured to be? if anyone knows more please post me a reply. Thanks.

Hi Group

Just wondered if any members lived in or near Ban Na Udom just out of town off the Chayankul Road. My wife and I have a house there and wanted to know if there are any farangs close who wished to keep in contact with someone from there area. If so feel free to send a private PM.

Jay

Hi All

Has anyone got any news on Rosie's in soi 7 since the owner Bill died. What has happened to the place since. Is it still in business and who runs it now. I used to go there alot before and got to know Bill from my many stays in pattaya.

Jay

Hi All from Ubon

My wife and I have built our second home in Ubon just off the Chayungkul Main Road through the city. It has taken us a few years to get it built and we intend to keep visting now for holidays 2-3 times a year. Eventually we wish to retire there but having a two year old son with a disability has meant we have to put him through school here in the UK and our consideration always has to be how quick we can access a hospital. Our last trip in April'05 lasted two months, our longest yet, and we loved every minute exploring each part of the city. Supermarkets are great and I second what has been mentioned about Ubon been a good base to have for travelling around the North East. My wife is originally from Sisaket and it would have proved difficult to access hospitals if my son was sick if we had have decided to live there instead. Ubon has many hospitals and believe me you do need to have piece of mind that you can get to one quickly. Village life is most peaceful and scenic but if there was an emergency I don't think I would like to travel a one hour plus journey by road before getting to a hospital for treatment. Within an hour out of the city you can visit Sirindorn Dam where the king has a holiday home. Within the complex you walk fantastic gardens, stay over night in cheap accomodation and fish the next day or play golf. I love Ubon and always miss it when I leave. If you want somewhere where an expat can live cheaper than in the resorts then it is as good as anywhere. I tried living in and out of resorts for some years but at the end of each month had spent much more than I would have back home in England and decided that even at retirement age Thai resorts would not be the best option if wanting to keep your money in your pocket and marriage intact. One thing you notice in the North East is how genuine the people are. I have not had any bad experiences to date of the locals as the have always been more than polite. My wife, son and I will be back in Ubon from Nov'05-Jan'06. If anyone wants to keep in touch feel free. The only thing I have not managed to do yet in Ubon is spend enough time to meet and make expat friends which I would like to do. Not all expats there are long faced. I met a guy in The pizzahut restaurant in Ubon on my last visit named JC from the USA. He was very friendly to us and we soon struck up a conversation about his travels in and out the City. My regret is that I did not ask to keep in touch at the time and should have as he seemed a nice person.

All the best.

Jay