cme

I did a 10 day retreat about 15 years ago in Kho Phangan and it was an amazing experience. I'd strongly recommend it. It's not expensive, and if you decide after a few days that it's not for you, no problem, you can just leave.

I've used [email protected] many times and they are excellent. Quality cars and excellent drivers. Earlier this year I paid 1200 Baht and it's well worth the extra 100 or 200 Baht over a normal Taxi

PM me.

48 minutes ago, billd766 said:

From a farang point of view, having lived both in Bangkok and in rural Thailand since 2001, nothing much has improved other than out here most of the moo bans are now connected to the main water supply from the big village.

 

It was cheaper and more efficient than building a dam, which has been in the planning stage for about 15 years.

Living here as you do, I bow to your more relevant knowledge. My initial comments were just about the improvements I have seen over the past few years, I wasn't attempting to generalise or speak of the whole county.

7 minutes ago, billd766 said:

And in the rest of Thailand, including ALL the rural areas?

Roi Et is a rural province? But I have no knowledge of the farming community etc and just wrote about what I have seen. From a Farang point of view I think things have vastly improved over the past few years.

13 hours ago, scorecard said:

And nothing whatever done to reform the police. Now so much corruption/massive corruption directly involving the police, just disgraceful.

 

It's been building for years, the last sveral years so many reports re police involvement difficult to count them. And now the negative reports re massive scam / police ownership again and again from Chuwit makes your eyes water.  And then there's the beyond belief red bull case.  More police invetigation orderd again and again, nothing happens therefore no results. 

 

What has the PM done? Nothing, totally nothing.

 

How can he not do something?  

 

How can he just ignore it all  

I disagree.

Because of Covid I haven't been here for the past 2 years, but overall, comparing now with 10 years ago things here have vastly improved. I refer to Roi Et and Jomtien. Pavements have been repaired, new roads built (RE) recreation areas cleaned up and improved. In Jomtien the beaches have been massively expanded, trees planted and generally it's much cleaner and tidier than in the past. A huge improvement over the Thaksin years. A new and friendly Immigration Office in RE is also great. Sure, the corruption still goes on but I read encouraging signs that some changes are announced even if not implemented. 

15 hours ago, henrik2000 said:

Hello all, thanks for your recommendations!

 

I have a total Facebook aversion, but should be able to find Bella Taxi elsewhere also, or i take PattayaTaxi.

 

Thanks again!

I recently used Pattaya Taxi. Swampy to Jomtien was 1200Tbh and Jomtien to DM 1500Tbh

9 hours ago, Celsius said:

What's the point of working until 69? You'll be dead in 10 years. Seriously I think all the backpackers have it right. Spend time enjoying and travelling while you are young. You don't need much money when you are young.

 

240k baht a month and now worried sick. Have you ever seen an 80 year old guy in Thailand? Neither have I.

Come to Roi Et, loads of them, all nationalities!

My understanding of Halal is that it is a cruel way of slaughtering animals. Not stunned before hand, just hung up by their back legs, throat slit, then left to bleed to death, all in the name of  primitive religion, Judaism or Islam.

Your permit is valid up to midnight (24:00) on the 'Until' date.

I think it may be related to if you're already in the system and have history here. Maybe it only is enforced on first timers or others with a background problem?

On 11/18/2022 at 4:31 PM, lopburi3 said:

But those hundreds who came will have provided envelopes with donations (most cash in 500-1,500 baht range) so some/much (sometimes all) of the cost is offset).  In our experience a close family member will take responsibility (pay) and receive the donations.  

She says they got about 120k in the envelopes, it was in a small Issan village, most of the people farm rice etc, so not a lot of money around.

My wife just had a big funeral party for both of her parents who died just before Covid. It lasted for 3 days and hundreds came. She said it cost more than 600K including 120K that went to the Wat. She with her 5 brothers paid for everything, not a Satang from me. These are ordinary people teachers etc. and I gave her my views on such crazy spending but she just says it's 'the Thai way', so I say no more.

The best breakfast I've ever had was at the Amari Boulevard, Soi 5, Sukhumvit. An amazing buffet with a Chef to cook your eggs to order. They even had 2 types of bacon, crispy or soft. A honeycomb press to deliver freshly squeezed honey plus just about all you could wish for.

My 1st was AZ, no symptoms other than a sore arm the next day and cold hands for a few hours. My 2nd was Pfizer and even less problem, a saw arm (at injection point) on the day after and that was it. Other friends have all had varying symptoms, everyone is different.

Yes, that's the standard practice in Germany, they believe AZ followed by Pfizer BionTech gives a stronger protection.

On 8/29/2021 at 3:20 AM, cleopatra2 said:

Just because your spouse is not entitled does not equate to this applies to others

 

https://www.gov.uk/new-state-pension/inheriting-or-increasing-state-pension-from-a-spouse-or-civil-partner#:~:text=and working overseas-,Inheriting or increasing State Pension from a spouse or civil,you reach State Pension age.

 

I checked the Link and what you say only applies to a partner that qualifies in her own right for a pension, she may get an additional sum as part of your pension added to her own, but any partner that does not qualify for her/his own pension will get nothing.

On 8/22/2021 at 3:08 PM, sungod said:

Fine for torrents. If you want good quality buffer free tv then you have to subscribe.

Not true, with a VPN I can watch BBC, Oz cricket and any other channels from anywhere that have an Internet website.

23 hours ago, BenDeCosta said:

I'm seriously considering turning one of those big clay water containers in my wife's garden into a tandoor. It wouldn't take much, and can get all the spices from ZingStreet. 

I thought about that too. Please keep us updated. 

When buying a ticket I always start with an (any) airlines website price and then l use that as my reference price with the agents. In my experience you almost always can get the same and sometimes a better price with airline. Sometimes the difference is very small in an agents favour but then you have to weigh that up against the integrity of the agency and without being disrespectful to Thailand, there may be risks involved.

Last year my wife had a ticket to Europe with Qatar but their flights were then suspended. They offered to re-book but always no flights. KLM were still flying so flew with them and cancelled Qatar. Qatar head office refused any refund, it was a cheap ticket. Contacted Qatar in Europe and full refund issued. 

14 hours ago, Oxx said:

 

I'm guessing that should be "domicile", and there's no such rule.  In fact, domicile is extremely hard to lose.  One can live abroad for decades and still be UK-domiciled in the eyes of HMRC.

There's a huge difference between 'domicile' and 'resident'. It's very difficult to lose domicile status which means the Revenue will/may always have an interest in you. Not to be confused with being Non-resident. 

On 12/23/2020 at 12:48 PM, samsensam said:

 

so set one up via family or friend.

 

a reminder here that it's worth maintaining a uk address, easy to do and prevents awkward issues like this

That's possible as I have a daughter in the UK but as I only use the card when I'm there on holiday it's not worth the hassle.

On 12/22/2020 at 11:23 AM, BritManToo said:

Natwest mobile phone app allows 1000 gbp transfer per day with no authentication.

I use the phone app to send money to Transferwise, then use the accumulated Transferwise amounts to Thailand.

 

You may need to phone NatWest to set up the phone app.

The Natwest App is no longer available unless you have a UK address. I spent a long time in one of their branches trying to make it work before they confirmed with Tech support, only available for UK addresses.