Hugh Jarse

Perhaps, she saw a group of southern Thai's visiting and no doubt enjoying The Royal Flora at Ratchapruek. CNX is a very popular at this time of year for domestic tourists!There are dozens of tour buses from the south visiting now! By the way is your wife a social anthropologist?

Why not try the numerous fresh and delicious fruit juices, ie passion fruit orange etc. These contain vit C also unlike the crap found in the multi national drinks . Less harmful and healthy.

red, black & grey.

thanks krsi . james

What a boring choice of colours!!!

This is good news to hear for both foreigners and Immigration clerks who are inundated with tedious and often duplicated paperwork. Is this development nationwide or just a select few offices? Thanks for the posting.Lets hope more internet renewals can be undertaken in the future.

I rate Nationwide as No 1 and have done since they were Nationwide Anglia many moons ago! It is a shame they now charge for international withdrawals in Thai. Never mind.

It's also a shame that they've shut all their agency branches down and have stopped selling foreign currency at advantageous rates to their owners (us). It's a shame that they're acting like a bank and forgetting their origins.

Totally agree, NAtionwide were once 'Proud to be different' now they should use in their logos: proud to be ,no different and, like all the other banks! Exhorbitant fees imposed on the owners (customers) and few benefits for those living off and onshore.(save for some 'free'travel insurance within Europe only). I understand that Lloyds.will do a Swift transfer for £17.50. so will be exploring this option as Nationwide are losing their competitive edge.

You can have the most talented educators at any school, but in the end, if the students aren't up to it, this will surely reflect on a schools performance, at ptis [prem] they havn't got the student numbers again this year, subsequently they will accept almost any student, there not in a position to cherry pick the brightest, now that in itself COULD spur educators to work harder on the positive side, however the skeptic in me suggests that results will be rather lower than usual.

it's a major problem for the school, but they should have seen this coming, it's not as if it's happened overnight, this must be the 4th yr in a row that student numbers have dropped dramatically, the responsibility for that rests fair and square on the administrators past and present.

I suspect also that the very high level of fees prevents middle income earning parents placing their children at the PTIS.

Re: CMIS - we're new so I can't help you with past years' outcomes on the AP exams, but I can tell you what AP courses were on offer this year:

Calculus

Biology

Chemistry

Physics

Economics

English

Psychology

World History

US History

Studio Art

NOTE well, the paucity of language learning: no Thai, no Mandarin or European languages! Also, most worrying is the absense of any vocational studies. No wonder so many families shy away from this institution.!

I didn't give the whole schedule, only the AP classes. Of course there are other languages, including Thai. Not vocational studies that I can see though!

Re: CMIS - we're new so I can't help you with past years' outcomes on the AP exams, but I can tell you what AP courses were on offer this year:

Calculus

Biology

Chemistry

Physics

Economics

English

Psychology

World History

US History

Studio Art

NOTE well, the paucity of language learning: no Thai, no Mandarin or European languages! Also, most worrying is the absense of any vocational studies. No wonder so many families shy away from this institution.!

Re: CMIS - we're new so I can't help you with past years' outcomes on the AP exams, but I can tell you what AP courses were on offer this year:

Calculus

Biology

Chemistry

Physics

Economics

English

Psychology

World History

US History

Studio Art

I was in a similar situation 6 years ago and would suggest that you spend 5-6 days in CNX to interview the admissions staff and ideally some teachers and carry out your own research. You should ask for longditudinal exam. results when you grill them, as well ask about the qualifications of the teachers and how long they have worked at the school .. Hang around outside the school gates and interview some of the parents .This is a major decision and you need to be sure (ish) that you pick the right school for your children. They all have their strenghts and weaknesses. Also consider location and relative proximity from home to the school.

On a final note we decided not to use any of the international schools as we wanted our children to be fluent in the Thai language as well as their mother tongues.International schools tend not to focus on Thai.

There is a lot of information in this thread about education in Chiang Mai and some rivetting stuff too.

Good luck.

Sounds like job for John Cleese - Ministry of Sloppy Titties?

I wonder if they could do anything to reduce my grande derrier!

Wisuth, being the tiny, cowardly, soft, wussy man he is, is going to appeal the sentence. Imagine if he had stood up, and apologized to the families who lost loved ones, and said he is going to serve the sentence as penance, and pay the fines as required by the court? Instead what does he do? That which a soft, wussy, tiny, insignificant man does. Deny, and continue fighting. What a terrible example of a human being. He is a discredit to the human race. Shame on you Wisuth.

AGREE, he is an absolute scumbug. In view of the seriousness of his crimes he should have his passport taken away til the appeal has been heard.

Sorry ,why do you need a certificate to prove that you are alive?I am on an old age pension, have never heard of such a document, if indeed that is what it is.I have to go to my Embassy ,to get Stat .Dec. certifying my monthly income,which I then present to Immigration, and then they issue me with a 1 year extension.I have to do this every year. There is NO document that can be issued by your Amphur, that is accepted by Immigration.That has been the law for many,many years. I repeat ,there is NO document issued by your Amphur ,that is acceptable to them. They need ,and will only accept a Stat ,Dec. , from your Embassy, certifying your monthly income,that is of a minimum of B 65,000 per month, or if you have B 800,000 lodged for a minimum of 3? months in a Thai bank account

Last year I had to prove income of 50k pcm or have 400k in the bank; I am married to a Thai. When was the increase announced?

Check out the Chiang Mai Forum and within this is a thread for education/childrens education. I found this a good place to start. Thai schools have very poor English language teaching, as do many of the so called bi-lingual schools. Do the background work and then go and interview the schools nearest to where you plan to live.Of utmost importance is to get thorough info. on the teaching staff, their qualifications and whether the school has native speakers who speak good English well!

Crime is heavily under reported in Thailand due to the fact that the police are either incompetent, involved, or likely to take advantage of the situation. I expect the real numbers are much higher. Can't comment on the missing people stuff as they don't say for how long or what efforts were made to find them. But we know stalkers do use the internet to find victims so no reason to doubt it happens here too.

Wisdom... dead on.

Any one know what the murder rate is in Thailand? It is rumoured to be the highest in South-east Asia. Does the govt. publish such figures?

Sometimes yes most the times no. Depends on the immigration officer.

I was at the Chiang Mai Imm Office recently and they insisted on keeping the original ,embossed, letter from Brit. Consul,. It really grates having to pay over 2000 baht for a simple downloaded template, signed by an official.

The 400k would be for immigration extension of stay - with 100k KL will issue a multi entry non immigrant O visa valid for one year of 90 day entries. That should like it would fit if you have the 100k. Take bank book, marriage certificate, copy of wife id and home register and normal visa application at KL to obtain.

Thank you for this info. I am visiting Vietnam soon and wonder whether the Thai Embassy in Saigon/HCM city would issue a multi Non I 'O'?

Thanks again.

KL or KL or KL. Sorry.

Is it possible to obtain a Double entry NON I O based on marriage to a Thai in the region?.

My multi entry visa runs out next month and do not want to return to UK for another 12 monthvisa.I do not have the 400k surety but wil have middle of next year.

Many thanks for any advice here.

If he is planning on dieing in the house sure go ahead and invest that 5 or 6 million, but if he has any idea of moving on do not do it. Rent. There are over 5,000 houses on the market in Chiang Mai and that is what is listed with the top 5 realtor's in the area. If you were to add in all the other realtor's and those that are private, oh boy. I can show you 12 beautiful homes, 2 story on a lake empty. You tell me.

Agree, advise that he rent first and then spend at least 4-6 months looking around for a place to call home. As a foreigner it is always difficult to live in a 'stand alone' owing to security issues and absenses from the house; you must have adequate security measures in place as there is so much poverty here right now. A relatively secure housing estate(Moo Bahn) may be the best option in the interim.

There is also the very real possibility of further political unrest, deterriorating forex rates and these could have a detrimental effect on re sale values.

In a nutshell:: Rent, rent, rent . If you have a Thai partner however they may think that you are a bit simple!

Good luck.

Another problem with Nationwide who l have been with for 10 years is that they will not send any correspondence to your Thai address but this is not to much of a problem as l use Internet banking. My main problem is that my flexi account debit card (Visa) expires in June next year so they will not send me a new card here Thailand. They send all correspondence to my sisters home as my registered address with them so will have to arrange for her to DHL/Fedex the new card to me. Very costly as not wanting to go back to the UK just to pick up a new debit card as l currently use the card to withdraw my monthly pension. !50 baht withdrawal fee and now 1 GBP and 2% fee on top is a lot to take into account but no option as there do not seem to be a lot of alternatives. Dissapointed with Nationwide but what else can us ex-pats on a pension in Thailand do?. Will try and get my pension companies to send the funds to my Thai bank account each month but not sure if they will charge. Any suggestions are welcome

At a time when the public's attitudes to banks and banking executives are at an all time low it is curious that N'wide are increasing their fees now. The gimmmicky free travel insurance ,is within the EU countries only, so pretty useless for those who travel outside the EU. It looks as though N'wide are losing their competitive edge. For Nationwide to take customer complaints seriously I would urge those who feel disastisfied/ outrage to write letters of complaint to :: Graham Pilkington, (Division Director, Banking) Nationwide building Soc. Swindon SN38. Nationwide continue to use a slogan ::Proud to be different' In reality they are proud to be like every other bank!

Another problem with Nationwide who l have been with for 10 years is that they will not send any correspondence to your Thai address but this is not to much of a problem as l use Internet banking. My main problem is that my flexi account debit card (Visa) expires in June next year so they will not send me a new card here Thailand. They send all correspondence to my sisters home as my registered address with them so will have to arrange for her to DHL/Fedex the new card to me. Very costly as not wanting to go back to the UK just to pick up a new debit card as l currently use the card to withdraw my monthly pension. !50 baht withdrawal fee and now 1 GBP and 2% fee on top is a lot to take into account but no option as there do not seem to be a lot of alternatives. Dissapointed with Nationwide but what else can us ex-pats on a pension in Thailand do?. Will try and get my pension companies to send the funds to my Thai bank account each month but not sure if they will charge. Any suggestions are welcome

Easy for you - pop into AA Insurance Brokers next to Big C on S'vit Road (the South Pattaya one) and they will help

Mitiyon on the Sukhumvit gave me mine for the second year, they were also the cheapest with comparable cover.

They use Lockton insurance.

Failing that go to E & I insurance brokers on the third road just down from Exzyte, they do all my other insurances, great service and English speaking and reliable.

Keep those good times rolling.

Norman W

Are E & I on the same side of the road as Exyte? When you say 'just down', is that south or north? Thanks.

Hull are usually very good at replying to emails in my experience.

A related question? My Non Imm. O by virtue of marriage runs out in November. Where, in the region, is best place to go for another one ?. I would ideally like a double entry visa this time round, until I can return to my home country for another Multiple entry ,1 year visa.

.

One thing worth pointing out is that Prem is the only school around Chiang Mai where the students get an International Baccalaureate. This is a great help if you aspire to further studies at university abroad.

/ Priceless

I believe that APIS (American_Pacific) also offer the IB.Not sure how good the school is though.

There is a current debate about the usefulness of the IB V. (The British) A level system. What kind of education do you want for your children? will you be moving to other countries before your childre complete their studies?

You could also consider some of the Bi-lingual schools too . For example Wichai Wittaya (a Thai, Turkish foundation) Check out the posts in the education forum here as I found these very useful.

Good luck you have a major decisions ahead of you.

"I did not intended to hurt him. I apologise to his family," he told reporters.

Well, that makes it all okay then. Condolences to the family of the slain boy. It did not have to happen. There is plenty of blame to go around here, but it starts with these two punks. Life without parole. Done. Next time we hear anything about them is in 2060 when its reported they've died in prison. Next in responsibility are the heads of the schools. For years their line has been "boys will be boys" and they have refused to come down on the rivalries between these schools, they have even promoted the rivalries. Give the headmaster of this school the word - shut down the school if he does not resign. The education minister should be called in front of the governor or PM and have a plan within 48 hours to clean up the rest of the schools or he's gone. Word goes out to all schools, next sign of trouble, they all shut down, for good.

Social control begins in the family (I'm assuming these yobs have a family or some kinsfolk), and that is where right and wrong must begin. Don't just blame the schools and those running them.It is much more complicated .We all learn more out of school that in it . Poverty and chaotic family life leads to all kinds of social disintegration .The elites and power wielders of this country have a monumental job ahead of them improving childrens access to education, along with financial support for (poor) families to help them send their children to school without incurring debts to userers(sp?).

My deepest sympathies to the parents of the dead.