KKr

On 12/3/2021 at 4:27 PM, richard_smith237 said:

It's also the first time I’ve read of or heard of any member of the BiB proactively pulling someone over rather than simply manning a check point. 

 

Near Bangkok, I've been pulled over for driving the third lane with the tailgate open (as there were a couple of bikes on the back) and got fined, as far as I remember it was 50 B that she paid.

That surely looks like an interesting place for a tourist to go to.
one off the bucket list then.

On 11/10/2021 at 7:27 AM, OneMoreFarang said:

But other decisions, like where to eat and where to work can be made later.

let me start with this one:
you do not need eight sockets, Fibre Optic etc, at your dining table.
Also, the lighting may be different depending on the zone that you intend to use.

having done over ten strip (to the beams) and re-build projects from 30 to 250 sqm, the last one more or less OK, my two cents......
Some ideas to look out for, in random order.:
Put sockets every two meters.
Put switches where you go in / leave the room.
One Bathroom, fine, but do make a 2 sqm visitors loo + washbasin (or even a Shower) Can combine with Washing machine, Western Top loader better as they spindry faster since it is a larger drum and can find under 60 cm wide.
Kitchen cabinets are usually not enough, and the fridge you'd like maybe 80 or 90 cm wide. Plenty of required space examples on PinInterest.
Make sure the hub vents to the outside world, the same for the Bathroom and Loo/Laundryroom.
Make sure hot/cold water available in kitchen and washbasin, not just shower.

People like to sit with their back against a wall, if no wall, use a low sideboard with decorations items to create a visual partition. (same for bed)

Dining area / cum bar can be done, but ensure there is somewhere to put your feet under the table instead of kick some kitchen cabinet when you are eating / enjoying yourselves.

Dining table can be nice, I'd choose an extendable/foldable one depending on the expected use (read a newspaper/do some work or just eating place for two) 

Generally it is advisable to create distinctly different zones, kitchen / working desk / eating / relaxing so your mind knows what to think about when using a certain area.

Bear in mind how you will use the apartment, where will you walk. (going from kitchen to dining table, it is not efficient to walk around the sofa; can you dump heavy shopping bags near the door or have to cross the apartment, same but v.v. for garbage, etc.)

Do put ceiling fans, amazing how quiet they work yet give huge airflow.

HUGE Windows are nice, especially when facing North, for logical reasons.

Tile floors are noisy, and in many condo's not allowed.
Can put a "floating" parquet floor, pleasant to the feet, and very quiet when walking.

One thing I have seen a few times in Thailand already, some builders do not understand the need to put waterproofing under a tiled floor in kitchen or bathroom. make sure they do waterproof the floor and where appropriate the wall.

Rip out all old electricity wiring, and put in what Europeans call "earth-leak" protectors for wet areas at least. (also, it is advisable to put more that two fuses so that if your kitchen is using heavy load, not all apartment sits in the dark)

Enjoy !

3 hours ago, zzaa09 said:

I believe the wiser folks will give 'em a month or two to sort out the glitches and obvious faux pas - in which, most of these things have been updated or fixed. 

imho those "wiser folks" should have done desk-top testing and Proof of Concept, then gamma, if all still works beta, if all still works stress-testing; and only then release a live version to the end-users.
oh, forgot, and never ever tinker in the live-system.

But hey, I am old-fashioned and not in charge, surely those in charge have improved on this methodology already.

On 10/25/2021 at 10:36 AM, MarcelV said:

Why would you run the AC for 10 minutes before getting in?

maybe to get the inside temperature up or down to the desired level ?
if putting little children or a cod inside the car, a good idea, imho.

10 minutes ago, skatewash said:

แม็คกรัธ seems to be a very popular translation for McGrath as this news article shows (McGrath is apparently an Australian player for the Chonburi FC):

https://mgronline.com/sport/detail/9570000134433

 

there are many ways to skin a Thai language problem.
McGrat is already better than McGraat.
but it is not "McGrath" ????
let's not open the discussion on แม็ค vs. แมค ;
the former being correct and the latter as in MacDonalds 

On 10/26/2021 at 12:57 PM, Anticloud said:

แมคกราซ but my wife would really like แมคกราธ. It's McGrath

if changing, I would change to the short subdued "a" sound and add a dead "h"

thus : แมคกร์ัธห์ (= McGrath even in Google)

Best to consult with a Thai linguist.

9 hours ago, JRG23 said:

I agree. I'd much rather have the passport but I can't get it! Nowhere, literally, is available before I fly.

Surely these places will allow 'walk-in' customers to get passports? Anyone know if walk-ins are allowed?

 

It's a crazy system. It's a crazy country.

MorProm APP is taking appointments (Bi-lingual) starting November for, as I understand, handing out the passport . enter Vac Certificate and Passport on App.
!!! This seems to be for BKK pick-up only. !!!

Locally,  processing time about 5 working days.

11 hours ago, lanng khao said:

If it wasn't for bad luck,you'd have luck at all..

“no” to be added

carefully listen to born under a bad sign, a.o. by Cream

On 10/17/2021 at 2:20 PM, xylophone said:

So the point about one being suspected of aiding and abetting the facilitation – money – cycle falls by the wayside because of this.

It can easily be argued that this information only exacerbates the suspicion.

6 minutes ago, Headgame said:

In 11 years, I've never been asked a single question by an IO and just waited patiently while the multiple stamps are applied to my passport and other docs. Always show my appreciation with a miscalculation of the filing fees.

 

This doesn't need to be complicated and certainly doesn't need an agent unless it's necessary to take certain steps to comply with the bank issues.

on my first retirement extension I used an agent to avoid the long queues. 
apparently, I was the first of her clients who had money in the Bank,
you should have seen her face ... 
After that, just prepared the paperwork myself and queued.
Recommend to get the updated list of requirements a week or so before handing in the application and Bob's your uncle.

On 10/16/2021 at 1:22 PM, skatewash said:

Or you can pay 22,000 baht to an agent and they can do what you couldn't do.  The agent likes this and the immigration officers like this as they get part of that 22,000 baht.  It's a win-win situation.  Except I wouldn't be happy paying 22,000 for something that I know should cost exactly 1,900.  But it's Thailand, so up to you. ????

Moreover, by using such <agents> to knowingly avoid certain documented requirements, one could be suspected of aiding and abetting the facilitation-money-cycle that so many people despise.

7 hours ago, JimmyJ said:

I always have a cameraman following me in a 2nd car.

convenient, paid for by the trouble no doubt ????????

On 10/14/2021 at 11:52 PM, EVENKEEL said:

It's hard not to feather the brake. I have family members who were at polar opposites, some never saved a penny and others saved and never used their money. I think for some saving becomes a way of life and they can't change. Me, well I'm trying to change.

assuming that you have a pension that would cover basic living expenses incl. healthcare,
I say enjoy it while you can,
Lost two good half century long friends about 3 and 5years after they got retirement.

19 hours ago, pacovl46 said:

Take the tractor back, sell it and what’s left over can surely be paid off without having to sell body parts! 

a seven year old tractor, unless regularly serviced at a dealer's and responsibly used, is worth next to nothing!

2 hours ago, spidermike007 said:

Not that I am not sympathetic to the exploitation of women, which I am, but something smells fishy here. I have known alot of women who have gone to work massage in Dubai, Singapore, and elsewhere, and they all seem to know the only way to make real money is to offer sex services, of some kind or other. 

 

So, this sounds like more fake puritan nonsense, from the guys who consider themselves to be a pure as Patagonian snow. Such delusion. Such hubris. Such nonsense. 

IMHO not nonsense.
Furthermore,
1) there is a distinct difference between free-lancing and being forced to provide services at work. 2) other than that, a salary of about USD 1.000 incl. board and lodgings, is rather attractive for someone making about 10-12K THB a month, who needs to pay rent and food, and who has kids that need to go to school.

20 hours ago, OneeyedJohn said:

copies of my 90 day online report to prove my address,

90day report is not proof of address; a (yellow) tabian baan or residence certificate are.

upon renewal application, DLT will do basic eye test.

this includes color blindness and peripheral vision. 

In case of having issues in one eye, the peripheral test is likely to fail. 

Hence the advise to get an optomologist issued “fit for driving” certificate makes 100 % sense.

20 hours ago, WhiteBuffaloATM said:

“headman” bs a step to far for me…….

from what I have seen however, the Pu Yai Baan is the person ruling the local quarantine requirements.

Therefore, getting a statement of his/hers could be on the list of docs to present.

Consider the relative bs vs BS;

i.e. getting a one page letter vs  driving back 600 K’s to get a one page letter.

@JWRC

Hope you find all is well and can take the trouble&strive home soon.

in case you need a second opinion, it maybe worthwhile to have a conversation at Sripat Medical center. In my case, I had a very good experience with the Surgeon referred, and, in case of a future issue, they would be my first place to turn to.

Good Luck

5 hours ago, RafPinto said:

It's broken.

 

what happened? did you blow it up ?

for milk foam, like for cappuccino, tried several brands but ended up with Meiji, the only one I could make a consistently nice foam with.

some of the other brands separated while passing steam. no comment on that.

in other posts, I saw a few brands  I did not see in shops here, worth a try as and when available.

3 hours ago, hotandsticky said:

 

Sound theory.

 

 

Unfortunately not:-

 

Travel from the rest of the world if you are fully vaccinated

From 4am Monday 4 October, you will qualify as fully vaccinated if you are vaccinated either:

• under an approved vaccination programme in the UK, Europe, USA or UK vaccine programme overseas
• with a full course of the Oxford/AstraZeneca, Pfizer BioNTech, Moderna or Janssen vaccines from a relevant public health body in Australia, Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Bahrain, Brunei, Canada, Dominica, Israel, Japan, Kuwait, Malaysia, New Zealand, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan or the United Arab Emirates (UAE)

4 hours ago, smedly said:

If Thailand was removed from the UK red list then they may in fact recognise AZ and Pfizer administered in Thailand but possibly not and of the Chinese vaccines

good luck to those that need to travel to the UK as well as China. 

I was told yesterday that China only accepts Chinese vaccines.

18 hours ago, zzaa09 said:

Singapore has an Air Force?

Why?

for the same reason they have an annual re-training of those enlisted in military forces.