pennine

What about gold shops charging 4% per month on money lent against gold deposited? Is that legal?

everything posted is correct, but mention of the positive point that most malays and Chinese speak English.

after meticulously filling in all my forms and photocopying passport etc,i didn't get my extension of stay because I hadn't given copy of blue book for house. Previously, for 3 years at Nathon I was only asked for map location. Is thi a new requirement?

as for writing on bills, I went to Western Union th change some Indian rupees. they wouldn't accept a few which had been written on.

Thank you Virgosg for comprehensive details of Samui retirement extension requirements. My original non-immigrant visa was also in an old passport which was stolen, but I've had two extensions since then with no problem. Do you know if this might be a problem in future?

I also often wondered why Thai names are so long, compared with Chinese, Vietnamese and Korean etc

Predictions are always difficult, especially about the future.

If you think Thailand is dangerous, try South Africa! You can have your throat slit for your cell phone; world leader in rapes, car hi-jacking etc.

I also see this a lot, especially with girl friend who is always hungry, but still leaves some food after ordering 3 Thai dishes. But more annoying to me is when you go to a buffet dinner in Europe and people stack their plates high, then leave half of it and often there is nothing for the late eaters.

My experience is the opposite. I nearly lost my UK (Great Britain) pension because letters from the pension office requesting proof that I was still alive within 8 weeks, arrived 12 weeks after date of letter. Two other letters from them were also 6 and 8 weeks late and delivered to the wrong house despite my address being correct (in Samui).

I wish someone would repair Soi 4 in Plai Leam, Koh Samui. It is full of deep holes and water logged and has to be used while Soi 2 is being worked on and is blocked. It's been like this for weeks now.

On the other hand, congratulations to someone for the total repair and upgrade of the "Ghost road" in Bang Rak.

I obtained a single re-entry permit from Nathon Immigration which is valid from 14th May 2015 to 28th December 2015. This latter date is also the date when my retirement visa extension ends. I actually left for overseas on 21st May and re-entered Thailand on 23rd July 2015. I am not clear when I must get my 90 day stamp from Immigration. Can anyone advise?

What about Malaysia? The MM2H scheme gives a 10 year visa and you can buy property above a certain value (to protect the poorer locals).

Why do husbands, on finding their wife in bed with a man, shoot the man? The wife is the guilty one.

In crime ridden South Africa, parked cars are rarely stolen as immobilizers became more sophisticated. So the hijackers changed to stealing the cars with the driver in them and taking the driver along, in case the immobilizer cut the engine and a code was required to start it again.

Asian date is not good. Most dating sites charge a subscription to join, after which you can message other members with personal details. Asiandate charges handsomely for every single action (read letters, chat, e-mail, call etc) but deletes any attempt to include personal details.

They say Koh Samui is expensive. I have 3 bedroom house with small pool, never use the AC's, only the ceiling fans, use a gas hob, live alone and monthly power bill is about Baht 6000 (1000 kW x 600 Bt per kW)

Can anyone advise the cheapest/quickest/least painful way of travelling from Samui to Hua Hin? I realise that the quickest may not be the cheapest etc, but please offer the options.

In Nathon, Samui, it is Bt 2000.

in Samui, one or two staff who understand questions in English.

When overseas, I stopped reading International Living because of its focus on the Americas for Americans.

I'm amazed that people still smoke in restaurants.

I also like Penang and the MM2H visa system, but it is sterile compared to Thailand when it comes to entertainment.

not only in Thailand; have a look at the pass rate in South Africa, not to mention the war cry "pass one, pass all".

I've tried to book an appointment at [email protected] as per instructions, but I keep getting an automated response telling me this e-mail is for booking appointments ONLY which is precisely what I am trying to do!