onvacation

First of all apology issued to cmhomeboy.

We were fortunate to be able to send our kids to an International school, met many friends there who were more than happy to take us places when they were able. Our house was 5 minute walk to the school. We had a scooty that my husband and I used a lot, when we needed a car we rented one or if it was just a short trip with the kids we took a tuk tuk. 99% of the time our Thai friends picked and dropped us off for play dates and parties. We always made sure that we shared gas expenses when we used their cars for longer trips. It's freezing here but the kids said they still prefer to live here...so it will be about 15 years until we make it to Thailand again. But I do expect my Thai friends to visit me in a few years.

Maybe cmhomeboy didn't mean what he said in a negative way. If he didn't, i agree with him. It's cool that you traveled, had fun but have a place where you belong and didn't get stuck here neither ended up complaining, living the bitter life.
So how did you go around with two kids without a car, i am curious?

My apology. Yep, I reread your post and I want to say I am truly sorry. Enjoy the heat there as we are freezing our butt here.

I didn't blame Thailand for anything. Thailand or any other parts of the world is just not for me to make a home. I am fine travelling for a few years, take my family on adventure but USA is my home. I have a home here, a comfortable income, a community etc. What's your problem? Yes, I probably will be back in 15 years and my Thai friends will accept me wholeheartedly because we have mutual love and respect.

You seem to have misunderstood my post. No offense or criticism was intended.

I have the greatest admiration for travellers who take an interest in, and try to learn about the places they visit.

Thanks to the members who understood this.

I didn't blame Thailand for anything. Thailand or any other parts of the world is just not for me to make a home. I am fine travelling for a few years, take my family on adventure but USA is my home. I have a home here, a comfortable income, a community etc. What's your problem? Yes, I probably will be back in 15 years and my Thai friends will accept me wholeheartedly because we have mutual love and respect.

I just want to say hello to all my Thai Visa friends! This website helped me tremendously when my family and I lived in Chiang Mai for 14 months. Life in Chiang Mai was fun and rough for us at the same time. It was rough because we were travelling and lived like travelers. We lived 14 months with our 4 year old twins without a car. The best thing we did in Thailand was put the kids in an international school and made a lot of good friends through the school. If I ever have a chance to travel long term again I would not hesitate to get a car it makes a huge difference when you have two kids in tow.

I just want to say that we miss Chiang Mai but very happy to be back home!

I hope you enjoy the heat and the sun there. If you need anything shipped from the USA let me know! I can help.

Hello Thai visa friends,

Thanks for all your support through this site. We are back in our cozy home in the US. The kids love it here and life is much more comfortable in our own house of course. I want to let you know that we decided to wait and get our son's surgery done here in the USA instead of at Bungrungrad, Bangkok. I just didn't feel comfortable doing it there. Surgery was done 2 weeks ago in one of the leading children's hospital in USA and everything went perfect. Missing Chiang Mai especially, now that the weather is getting colder. Bathe in the sun and the heat for me.

My family and I lived in Chiang Mai for 14 months. We put our kids at Lanna International school, on Hangdong Road. We were quite happy with the school. The teachers are very pleasant too. Here's their website.

http://www.lannaist.ac.th/

I hold a retirement visa and as my screen name suggests I'm only here on a long extended vacation. I am leaving Thailand for good in a week. Is there any paper/document/form I need to fill up as part of leaving the Kingdom?

Thanks

After living here for 14 months its time for me and my family to see different parts of the world. But first we need to close our bank account and convert Baht to US dollars. How do we do that in order to get the best rate? Your ideas and suggestions are appreciated!

I hope the couple finds a mature way of solving the problem for the sake of the child.

Thanks for all those who responded. We have decided to wait and do the surgery back home even though it will probably cost 10,000 usd.

So we saw a surgeon at Bumrungrad hospital. He said that he would do a surgery on my son and quoted a price of about 60,000 baht. Then a few days later we got an email from the hospital saying that they had choosen a plastic surgeon for us and quoted a price of 60,00-80,000. Then today I got an email from the Dr we met, he said he has a plastic surgeon in mind for our son and sent us an estimate of 120,000-130,000 baht for general anesthesia and short stay. All other services excluded. Now, the increase in price leaves a bad taste in my mouth. If they had told us it costs 150,000 baht right from the beginning I would have been fine. We we did this in the West it would have cost more.

Yes, the location would determine the type of surgeon needed.

It is not a difficult procedure.

The dermoid is on the eyebrow. I met with a surgeon in Bumrungrad, he said he has done a lot of similar surgeries but as with all surgeries there is always a risk. We did a ct scan doctors assured us that it is not cancerous. Our Dr friend in America though, said that a dermoid can become cancerous if not taken out. He suggested we take it out as soon as possible. We would like to get it done soon but not sure which hospital/doc to choose.

Does anyone here have experience with Bumrungrad hospital. My 4 year old son needs a surgery to get his dermoid removed but I'm not sure if Bumrungrad is the best hospital. Eagerly waiting for your stories and suggestions.

Thanks

Absolutely!

My friends (Chinese and Thai ladies) and I walked out of two different clothing stores because the staff was so unfriendly. Both times the staff didn't even acknowledge our presence, she looked sad, tired and disinterested. Had she been nice and pleasant the three of us would have spent thousands of baht in both stores.

Which areas I should avoid to stay away from demonstrators?

Bump!

If you had been accepted into their circle, then you would know the answer to this.

I just don't feel like asking. I'm afraid they might think I'm a bit intrusive. I have been accepted in to a circle but I always tread very carefully. Don't want to hurt or embarrassed anyone. In the end they are all nice and generous ladies but I just thought maybe a farang guy here would know exactly what a salon is in Thailand.

I am very interested in Thai culture and I am lucky enough to have been accepted into a circle of Thai women who are married to farang men.

99% of them claimed to have met their farang husband at a salon where they used to work. What is a salon in Thailand?: Massage place, spa, beauty parlor???

These women speak very little English even though they have been married to their men for more than a decade. There is a HUGE difference between my Thai friends who claim to have met their husband at a salon and my Thai friends who have met their husbands during traveling or at work in some international school.

So what is a salon in Thailand? I hope its not a brothel LOL. Not that it makes any difference:-) But I am kind of curious!

A friend of mine has a retirement visa. He already has a flight out of Bangkok in March. His retirement visa expires in April.

He wants to go to Vietnam in March for 10 days and then come back a night before his flight to Europe.

He is not coming back to live in Thailand so he wants to let his retirement visa expires.

Can he leave Thailand for 10 days and then re enter Thailand to catch a flight to Europe without a reentry permit using his 30 days free visa?

Thanks

Interesting topic.

Yesterday I got together with two Thai ladies who have a college degree. They mentioned, that the reason they didn't invite other Thai ladies to our yesterday gathering was because they were tired of translating (for me lol). These Thai ladies I got together with are married to farang and have decent English. They try their best to speak good English. They are my friends, my equals not my students therefeore, I don't correct their English ever unless I am asked. If I don't understand them I just ask lots of questions, sometimes it works sometimes it doesn't but oh well we get along fine and that's what important to me.

Do I find mature ladies talking baby talk cute? No way. But I do respect their effort in learning another language. I think in your situation it would be helpful if you asked your partner if she wanted to learn correct English. If the answer is 'yes' you either have to correct her or send her to a language school.

I started to speak like a baby too.

Just yesterday I said to my Chinese friend 'I no go market today':-)

My 4 year old son needs to to get his dermoid removed. I am looking for a higly skilled and highly qualified doctor to do the job. My concern is not the money but finding the best doctor.

Thanks

Would depend on your insurance, but there are great doctors/hospitals in CNX. Bumrungrad in BKK usually gets top honors, and is priced accordingly. Good luck!

Pay out of pocket. Money not a concern. Just want doctor that would do the best job. Thank you.

My son has a dermoid that is attached to his bone in his eyebrow. Did the scan at Chiang Mai Ram. Doc says it appears benign but need to take out as soon as possible as it may put pressure on the eye. Would you do this kind of procedure in Thailand? Which surgeon whould you go to?

Thanks

About 12 years ago a westerner met his Myanmar bride in a hotel in Burma where his bride worked as a maid. She has a college degree. I have met her many times and know her pretty well. They are still married with two kids and as far as my observation goes she is very conservative in her spending. She doesn't need a car, she doesn't drive. She gets her kids to/from school on bikes.

I also know several Thai women who are married to foreigners who would stick by their husbands through thick and thin. I know several who are married but live in different cities but still stick to their husbands...I guess because of financial reasons. I know a few who would kick their husbands out as soon as his wallet is empty. There are Thai women whom I would never want my male relatives to even think of dating them. Those are the ones who are really in to money, they look nice every single day, they have a portable refridgerator in their bedroom to keep their makeups, cream and lotion in perfect temperature. Those are the ones who are so prejudice against poor people, those are the one who are not afraid to say 'your cooking no good'. Money, appearance, nice house and big cars are so important to them. They don't drink, they don't smoke, they don't know how to cook and they don't think eating too much sugar in Thailand is not bad because the climate here is hot. They take more time in learning about makeup than gathering knowledge of good nutritious food to feed their toddlers.

Does anyone know when the BKK-Chiang Mai over-night trains start running again. I am looking to take the kids from BKK to Chiang Mai around the first week of January.

Thanks