fanciman

UPDATE

The price was incorrect. It is 7900 Baht.

It doesn't work with AIS. (Due to frequency - it supports True and DTAC. Bandwidths: 850 and 1800. I don't know if these are the only bandwidths it supports.)

Does it support 4G LTE? They didn't know.

Does the NFC work? They don't know - haven't checked it.

Does the stylus work? Hasn't been demonstrated.

Geo Location on Google maps worked. Whether that is due to being in proximity to mapped wi-fi or because GPS works, I don't know.

The screen is meant to be AMOLED! (That is good. It looked beautiful)

The RAM is a bit under 500 MB. (It is meant to have 2GB, I think.)

Custom ROMs should work with it, though the official one won't.

It is a dual SIM phone- great! Also a slot for a micro-SD card. The phone can handle up to 32GB.

The Bluetooth doesn't work, the shop keeper says. Wireless and Internet are meant to be OK. I don't know about GPS. The battery is meant to be "the same" and it can be replaced with a factory one. I didn't see the stylus in action. It is running Jelly Bean. In the software, you can see the phone version, which ends in "02". I looked for Note II variants and couldn't see one with such an ending; there are N7105 and N7100... (I can't remember the beginning of the variant number.) What could it be?

I like it because it has a big screen and runs jelly bean.

I have some questions and concerns about such a device and would also like to hear your suggestions and opinions.

1. Do some copies like this have built in hardware that could be a security issue?
   
2. If one is testing in the shop a phone like this, what procedures should you use to verify the most important hardware is like the original? (eg quad core, LTE support, GPS functioning... there may be some other significant ones.)
   
3. To what extent could you rely on the OS that the phone in the shop is running to accuratly report its hardware?
   
4. Is there an easy way to check whether the screen is actually AMOLED and what its resolution is?
   
5. If you take home a phone like this, what should you do? Download and completely reinstall the OS?
   
6. Does anybody have experience with such a phone? How was it?
   

I look forward to your replies!

Before I search through my documents to see, does it matter where they are based?

They must be in Thailand. In a city would be good. Bangkok, Udon Thani, Chiang Mai, anywhere really. I imagine effective female lawyers in Thailand are in scarce supply.

Can anybody recommend a practicing Thai lawyer who is a woman? Somebody who knows "the ways of the world", especially in Thailand, would be ideal.

If you recommend somebody, could you please characterise them a bit too / say why? For example, "Cheap", "Understands the real system", "Upright", and so on.

A phone number / e-mail address too would be terrific.

Thank you!

The visa stamp is OK until Monday.

There is an internal flight to Bangkok late Tuesday evening. (DMK)

There is then an international flight out of Thailand a bit after midnight,which is then Wednesday. (BKK)

What should be done?

Is it possible to somehow stay in the country till the international flight?

Thank you for your help!

Hello!

I love Morlam - the "country" music from Issan (and Laos). I would like to get some CDs and need some suggestions. The sort of thing I am looking for would be "Best of" or "So and So's greatest hits".

One singer's Morlam I definitely do like is Jintara Poonlarb, in particular her song "Wung Ta Krai". There are other great male singers, too, but I am not familiaiar with their names.

Please give me some suggestions about which CDs to get. If you can put the name in English and Thai, that might be very helpful.

Thank you!

I have been told by monks that in the teaching of Buddhism, there are no ceremonies. There are no priests in Buddhism, as priests carry out ceremonies.

Is this true?

I know that in Thailand monks are invited to funerals. I think they chant there. But as far as I understand, this sort of activity was not taught by Buddha.

What about the following:

Theravadan funeral ceremonies

Mahayana First Bardo ceremonies

Kathina ceremonies

Thank you.

Hello!

1)

I would like to better understand the difference between Thai "Jae" and veganism. I think Jae has something to do with a Chinese style of Buddhism, but I am not clear about this. (Buddhism is a system of meditation, not a religion, as far as I understand it.) Is Jae a sect or what? I think that people practising a Jae lifestyle abstain from alcohol, which is not part of veganism. Perhaps garlic is also avoided.

2)

Do Jae practitioners meet up now and then in Chiang Mai? Where and when?

3)

What are the best online resources for finding out about Jae living? Is there a good discussion board somewhere?

4)

Where is the greatest concentration of Jae people, in Thailand and also in the rest of the world? (Maybe Chiang Mai and some place in China... I don't know.)

Thank you very much for your help!

Hello!

1)

Are there any vegans in Chiang Mai? I would like to know a good place to eat vegan food on Sundays. (Actually, on any day, but especially Sundays, as a lot of places don't open.)

2)

I would also like to better understand the difference between Thai "Jae" and veganism. I think Jae has something to do with a Chinese style of Buddhism, but I am not clear about this. (Buddhism is a system of meditation, not a religion, as far as I understand it.) Is Jae a sect or what? I think that people practising a Jae lifestyle abstain from alcohol, which is not part of veganism. Perhaps garlic is also avoided.

3)

Do Jae practitioners meet up now and then in Chiang Mai? Where and when?

4)

What are the best online resources for finding out about Jae living? Is there a good discussion board somewhere?

5)

Where is the greatest concentration of Jae people, in Thailand and also in the rest of the world? (Maybe Chiang Mai and some place in China... I don't know.)

Thank you very much for your help!

Somebody recommended TrueMove.

They have coverage in the areas I would like.

Their webpage has an English version, but it is all in Thai! Even Google Translate doesn't help much, as all the details are in images with Thai writing.

1 ) Does anybody have experience with TrueMove? Are they all right as a provider?

2) I think I would tether my phone to a computer when I want to go on the Internet, too. Does their iphone 4 micro-SIM work with older iphones, too or should I use the Hi-Speed net SIM?

3) Will the pre-paid package / SIM let me receive phone calls on my phone as well as work for getting data on the internet?

4) Are those SIM cards/packages easy to get hold of? Could I pick one up at any convenience store?

Thank you for your help!

Thank you everybody for all the interesting ideas. It all seems quite complicated.

That book, costs only 1p! (though there are a couple of pounds shipping.) You can't go wrong with 1p, even though that book was written 10 years ago in 2002. I wonder how much tax laws have changed since then.

I spoke with somebody and they mentioned seeing a UK accountant who is used to dealing with ex-pats. They would know what to do, it was suggested. I think it really is something where some expert, personalized advice would be the necessary thing, but how much does that cost? And who would one talk to? It wouldn't be a very complicated case, I imagine. And there wouldn't be too many numbers to add up!

What would be the best SIM card / package to get for a visitor to Thailand staying a month or so?

They would be unlikely to use over 50 MB a day data. Perhaps it would be possible to use Skype or an alternative on a smart phone so as to make outgoing calls using the data allowance.

Thank you for your suggestions!

Thanks for the great ideas, AyG!

Start saving at 50 - finish at 60, or even 65.

I couldn't find the Expatriate Tax and Investing Handbook published by Pearson Education Limited at their website or on Amazon. Do you have a link or isbn?

Historically, shares seem to provide the best rate of return, if you can stomach the risk, but which sector will be best is debatable. I think the USA will be strong going into the future, and small companies have outperformed mid and large cap companies.

Thanks very much for the info about inheritance. Can the UK government really take 40% if you earned it abroad tax free, saved it off-shore and lived outside of the country?

Do you know a good forum/internet site for getting info on expat finance matters?

Is it a good idea to set up an off-shore bank account in this situation?

I would be very grateful to hear your suggestions on what to do for the following circumstances:

UK citizen

working outside of UK, earning tax-free salary

Goal: save up lump sum then live off it in retirement in Thailand

Time frame 10 years for savings

What should be done?

The best thing to do that I can see at the moment is to send back enough cash each year to the UK to fully use up the ISA allowance.

With the remaining funds, invest in ETFs, perhaps using ishares.

No idea which brokerage or other system to use to buy ETFs. Maybe the Motley Fool service.

I don't know if there is some additional way to provide some tax benefits for the surplus beyond the ISA.

I also don't know if there is a way to reduce tax once work has stopped and the lump sum starts being used to provide a regular income.

(Maybe all the investments should be converted into something else, once an income is required.)

Please let me know your ideas and suggestions!

I always go upstairs to the Departure area where Taxis drop people off and grab on there, no 50baht fee

Does the skytrain to the airport run 24/7? If so, is the service very frequent in the early morning, about 5 AM?

Thank you! This really is a great forum!

the toll is 25 and 45 = 70 baht (if you take the normal route)

you also have to pay an airport fee/tax of 50 baht

then say about 250-350 on the meter depending on wher you go and the traffic

Thanks Melvin - that is good to know. I just heard from a friend who advised me to take the skytrain. I had forgotten that the skytrain goes to the airport now.

And in case anybody is interested, there is also a bus from the ground floor to downtown for 150 baht, I believe.

Hello!

Just a quick question: How much is the taxi from the Airport to Downtown Bangkok? There are two tolls to be paid too, the Highway and the... I forget the other one!

Thank you for your help.

PS If you have heard any news about flooding canceling flights, I would appreciate the latest information.

Thank you for your help!

In order to qualify for a pension in the UK, do you have to do anything other than be a British citizen? Can you simply say to the government, I am so many years old and have a british passport, so please start giving me regular payments?

I understand that to get a good pension you have to have paid contributions for so many years. But I wonder if there is anything available if you haven't made any contributions.

After selling ones property in the UK one is left with no address in the UK for banks to send monthly statements. The bank will probably freeze your account. How can you continue UK banking if you live in Thailand? Will the bank in the UK accept a Thai address?

Sunsail in Phukhet do RYA courses but I think these are aimed more at great big yachts that never go upside down! I am interested in learning how to sail a dinghy, like a Laser. I don't have one.

Is there a place that will teach me to sail in Phukhet? Where?

Thank you for your help!

I am a beginner at sailing but wonder if Pattaya might be a good place to learn, since it is by the sea.

I have in mind a Laser dinghy (a one or possibly two man boat). I don't have a boat myself, so would need to borrow / rent one.

Does anybody know people who can teach sailing?

Please let me know.

Thank you!

Hello!

I would like to learn to sail somewhere warm and cheap. I hope Thailand is the right place. Does anybody know somewhere good, in Thailand or outside?

I would like to start with a dinghy like a Laser. I am a beginner but would like to do a proper course, if possible. I don't have a boat.

Please let me know!

Thank you.

Thank you so much for all these very helpful replies.

May I quickly ask one more question?

Which is the best software/book for self study towards a PPL?

Thank you!

Is this one of the maddest ideas or is there some sense to it?

Does getting a private pilot's licence in the Land of Smiles have any logic to it? What about a Commercial Pilots Licence (not a Airline Transport one)?

If you got a commercial licence, would there be much work available, or is the world full up with people with these licences all scrambling for the same morsels of work?

Any good places to study?