Khun Watchaporn

Pity it's a toned down N650 and not a toned up N250/300.

That would be nice.

the budget was living here

Some of us like weekends away at least every month.

Fly down to the islands or off to a resort, once or twice a month, go back to Europe once a year, new Nikon camera, set of tyres for the bike, car insurance.... things that living includes....

Resorts once or twice a month... travel around the world each year, newest model camera....

Isn't this how everyone lives?

One or two weekends away p/m in a country like Thailand, a new camera when the time comes (not newest model)... yes, I think that is how everybody lives unless they are unable to financially.

the budget was living here

Yes living here.

Some of us like weekends away at least every month.

Fly down to the islands or off to a resort, once or twice a month, go back to Europe once a year, new Nikon camera, set of tyres for the bike, car insurance.... things that living includes.... Is 'life' really just some cheap apartment and street food to some, and nothing more?

Best stay there 365 days a year with no holidays, or breaks, or buy anything decent and wonder how others average more than 1000b a day.

And Thailand ain't that cheap any more.

The original article is misleading, at least for third - nation foreigners.I wonder why the moderators did not make that clear when they posted the article.

At NO border point Thailand to Burma are you allowed to just cross and go where you please, border pass or visa holder.

It never was! Presently there is a lot of talk and hot air, I believe it when I see it.

Yup, you get a day pass into the market town that's on the other side of the border crossing, have to be back in Thailand by 5 or 6 pm.

Hopefully this will be the same as them.

I'm not holding my breath though.

^ Quite simple.

Don't think of day by day, think of month by month.

A 3 day holiday down the beach. 10-20k.

Rent a car (if you don't own one) or bike and do a week of touring.

Sure some people spent 30-31 days p/m eating 30b rat on a stick in a 4k p/m 'apartment', then cannot fathom how others actually live, and the money they spend doing so.

While several people have told me it's not 'real' riding, I plan to never be more than a couple hours away from my truck and bike trailer (as well as tools), which will act as my 'lifeboat' in case disaster strikes- I don't want to get stranded too far from assistance, so I'll be hauling my bike to the good spots so I can rely on myself if necessary- it's not that people wouldn't help you out, but rather that (depending on your ride) it's tough to find proper equipment.

Blimey.

Make that 'several +1'

What happened to chucking some clothes and a few llight tools in a backpack and heading off on roads unknown until you feel like coming back.

I generally prefer to ride alone, (in fairness now I do have a GPS), but just jumping on the bike and F'ing off is what makes biking for me. You get stuck somewhere, you can damn well make sure you're gonna be spending the night with some local mechanics getting shitfaced on whiskey and enjoying the local hospitality.... or walking back to where your van has been stragetically left a few km back after you towed the bike up there just in case.

How can you have an income without working?

Think about it.

Anything?

^ Westerner!

Accommodation = free.

Living in the Wat grounds is just pure Thai experience.

The discussion is just about the costs for the border pass at any Myanmar border crossing.

It was started yesterday when I made a post before bongbong's post made today.

OK thanks, got it.

So is the border not actually open yet or only open to Thai ID card holders? I didn't understand the bit about open for tourism.

There are many such border crossings between Thailand and Burma. Only 3 of which allow Westerners (and I believe all non-Thai or Burmese, though perhaps soon only non-ASEAN's) to officially cross.

I would be very surprised if this is open to foreigners almost immediately, or possibly even the foreseeable future.

Fine if you are a serial border runner.

Why is it not fine otherwise?

I suppose it mightn't be fine if $100 is a noticeable amount to you.

Personally I find it's always handy to have a small stash of US$ in my house should I be going somewhere where it is an advantage. Buy 'em one time and forget about them.

3 x 30b for food p/d.

Thai street cuisine is just delicious.

It will be just like all the other crossings into Myanmar. Pay 500 baht to enter Myanmar and then return to Thailand.

Hopefully.

Though I usually just hand over a crisp $10 note in Mae Sot.

Yes, it has been $10 for years and years. (anyone paying the 500 baht rate needs to instead change their money - new bills as stated above - pay $10 and then donate the other $6-$7- you are throwing away to a decent burmese charity)

Paying $10 is fine if you have it already. Making a trip to the bank just to get a good $10 bill might not be worth the time and hassle to do it.

You're thinking short.

You go one time and get ten or so of them. Also handy for trips to Cambo.

So my question would be can you stamp in and out at Singkhorn, like you can at the ranong crossing? Or will you need a visa?

Singkhon is a full international border point from Wednesday. We have got that confirmed by Prachuap Khirikhan Immigration.

Singkhon only opens for the tourism, not a full international border, you can not do the visarun at the moment, I was on the phone with Singkhon immigration a few minutes ago.

I suspected this.

I think we need official clarrification from the Dept. of Immigration on whether foreigners can use it to be stamped in and out, like in Mae Sot.

Thanks a lot for this VERY useful update!

Was there last night with my wife n' child. The place is fantastic, had the best pizza in TEN years of living in the northeast. Son had a "delicious' hamburger, you won't find that at other places in Sisaket.

There's also a very nice European managed restaurant in Kantharalak. Pizza 4 U I think it's called. In by the bus station. Go in to the bus arcade and turn left. Homemade base and sauce, very nice.

Hua Hin to Singkhon 115 km

Bangkok to Singkhon 302 km

Bangkok to Aranyappathet 254 km

This could interesting...

Aranyaprathet. E-Visa or one page in the passport gone. Hassle of dealing with the scum there. Bonus is large duty free.

Singkhon: Probably just $10 or max 500b, tiny stamp, probably not dealing with scum. Bonus, would make for an easy overnight along the beaches for a two day break from BKK.

Move along. Just another domestic dispute on the Island of Smiles.

Calming, buddhist, paradise.

It will be just like all the other crossings into Myanmar. Pay 500 baht to enter Myanmar and then return to Thailand.

Hopefully.

Though I usually just hand over a crisp $10 note in Mae Sot.

I am looking at buying a used condo in BKK, owned by a Thai in a Thai area, through a property website (DD Property).

I have never bought anything other than a few vehicles and am not sure of the exact procedure in ensuring it goes smoothly and correctly (and I don’t lose all my money haha). I am an EU national living here on a Non-Imm Visa.

I am aware of the following basics:

The money must come from overseas (my home country) and be officially transfered into Thailand for the purpose of buying a condo.

The condo building must not be more than 49% foreign owned.

I am looking at putting together a 10 step list of how exactly I go from wanting to buy it with my money in a home country account, to owning it outright in my own name.

I guess the 1^st step is finding out that the condo is at least 51% Thai owned, so I can get legal confirmation
that I can indeed own one of the condos there. It isn't a big flash 40 story complex developed by some known property developer. Is there a government dept. that will have the ownership list for each condo that can confirm that not more than 49% are non Thai owned? Or how does one go about getting official confirmation that you can indeed own it?

Thanks very much.

My income outweighs my outgoings here. The Thai baht I have coming in is always more than I spend.

Is there a best savings account I should look at. I have a few current accounts with Kasikorn but never looked at what interest they are paying, if at all.

I'm looking for a savings account to top up monthly for the next few years. I suppose around 3-4% is the best we can hope for.

Any recommendations for an account?

(I'm not working so no WP, but Non-Imm Visa and Cert. of Residence may do it for opening a new account. I think my 3 or 4 K-Bank accounts were opened on Tourist Visas. )

Thanks.

PS, I'm not really interested in stock, shares or anything else.

I know the prices of flight,hotels,girls,food etc.

About 2000b after 10pm.

It's just his delicate ego hurt.

Thainess 101.

Choices are to:

1) ignore it.

2) Report it to both the police and embassy.

3) Start F'ing with him by calling his bluff and hunting him down.

I'd recommend number 2.

Though 99% certain it's just his final ego shot after being rejected, something he and most Thais cannot take very well at all, and thus have to resort to some sort of final, cowardly insult and warning in order to feel powerful and sedated.