edwardflory

"""If I was on such a low budget I would also convince myself that Korat was the place for me""" When a Thai factory worker goes from living on 8-10,000 a month to 30,000bt+, and doesn't have to work, it sure is a better life, and since I am 80 and she is 54, she has security for after my passing. The "low budget" we live on has allowed: *) BKK CONDO is mortgage free - 6 building complex, much 'people traffic / noise.' *) village HOUSE is mortgage free - in the middle of nowhere in the mountains, 1 hour to any form of a 'city'. We choose KORAT. because we prefer a quieter life but 'near' civilization, AT THIS TIME.

Why would I want to live in the Isaan ( Korat ) area where: I have a 2BR ( UNFURNISHED ) HOUSE that I rent @ 4,500bt a month - furnished it for under 60kbt - what most people want for a house "deposit", with a fenced yard, 3 trees, veggie & flower garden, gated community, located 20 minutes outside center city KORAT. *) Immigration Office 15 minutes away. *) 4 major stores and 7-11 between 12-15 minutes away. *) over 1/2 way ( 4+ hours ) between family members both north and south. *) Personal electric tryke transportation for local - no car expences. Round trip taxi to bank or bus station 280bt. *) weekend activities, concerts, festivals, entertainment and etc at socker field or Temple ( non religious activities ) *) mom & pop stores, restaurants, strip mall 4 + minutes away from house. *) fishing lake ( natural ) 2 minutes from my door - no beach. *) friendly NEIGHBORS and a resident soi dog and 3 cats greet / visit you all the time *) 5G WiFi unlimited. Spending a AVERAGE around 30,000bt +/- IN KORAT monthly living expenses, ( we do travel to BKK where we own a condo ) and take holidays when wanted. Bank around 30,000bt monthly giving the wife 5,000bt spending / savings money.

It would be nice to have a STEADY AIRPORT service in KORAT, but all have failed so far.

I have lived in: Miami Beach, North Miami Beach ( motel row ), Hollywood FL, 'FLL', Long Beach Ca ( also Toronto, Montreal, Hong Kong - traveled Europe including Iceland ) stayed in PATTAYA 2 years ( 8 years ago ) ALL back in "the day" Now as a married Yank in my 80's I am living the ""quiet"" life in Korat ( Isaan ) with my 54 year old Thai wife ( she has ever been out of Thailand ) in a nice house ( with fenced yard, veggie garden and 3 trees ) in a gated community. We walk to weekend concerts every other weekend, walk to Temple activities ( non religious ) opposite weekends, a fishing lake 2 minutes away, movie theater trips to downtown Korat, ( also have 4 major stores 15 minutes away on electric trike ) holiday trips anytime we feel like it - going to take a week on the beach in 3 weeks, visit our condo in BKK when shopping or going on a 'road trip', visit family in her home village - her relatives also visit us. 2 other mixed couples in 30 house complex, landlord and neighbors are friendly including the resident soi dog and 3 cats. Retirement is WHAT YOU make of it - your LOCATION, LIFESTYLE and it's important to keep on 'trucking'.

The fact that via VPN you still have no access from a variety of countries COULD mean ANY of the following: 1) The site has been "secured" by the country govt - llegal reasons 2) YOUR VPN provider has been blocked ( see #4 ) 3) somehow your LOCATION is visible - geographical block 4) your LOCAL provider has restricted your access ( see #2 ) 5) your VPN software is not up to date. ( or payment is late ?? ) Good luck. Edit PS: See my DM to you.

I do my own TM-30's. Why should I bother my landlord to do when I am 15 minutes from my almost daily trip to 7-11, the IO is 5 minutes from the 7-11. I do after our holiday trips, usually takes 5 to 10 minutes of my time during my super busy retirement days. I want to protect my extension of stay. All I say at the TM-30 office is, "returning home". I have also done TM-30's for foreign visitors staying at our home - the last one 2 adults 1 child, with no problems.

I have a PINK Card, YELLOW House Book, THAI ARMY Hospital ID card, two other Thai Govt Issued ID's, all shown to gate attendant ( I have lived here 12 years ) and my Thai wife was told I had to pay the foreigner price for a National attraction my wife had never visited before. Sucks!!!

'According' to AMAZON: """Whether you should buy property—and why this might be the biggest, riskiest decision you’ll face.""" BUY PROPERTY??? Giving AMAZON a break, I will guess this means a business, NOT TERA FIRMA.

Well wrote: The only thing I would add, after "use of common sense" LOCATION & LIFESTYLE

"""Would these Cambodians had to have filed a TM30 in order to get an online TM47 "Approved"?""" ALL FOREIGNERS ( maybe not diplomatic people??? ) need to have a TM-30 "on file" in order to do a TM-47. MANY IO's cross check TM's now, mine does - personal experience.

Color me crazy, but in my opinion the people most unhappy seem to be living in "tourist" or "metro" areas. I did the Pattaya / BKK thing for 3 years, found out that I was looking for a quieter life with not so many expats with the 'war' stories they tell, and generally the more expensive living costs with less service. Now living in a gated community of 30 houses ( 2 other 'mixed' couples ), and a host of friendly neighbors including my landlord and local kids keeps me and the wife in good spirits. Located 20 minutes from center downtown Korat, 4 major stores within 15 minutes on my electric trike at slow speed, keeps us in touch, but at the same time, separated from the unhappy folks that seem to haunt the more popular areas of Thailand - we also have a condo in BKK and a house in her home village. Since we have a house in Korat, the 4 sisters and 1 brother in law ( ALL relatives living over 100 miles away 😀 ) plus their kids, ( hard to keep count of their rugrats ) visit, usually for just a day or two and are ALWAYS welcomed. LIFE in Thailand is what YOU make of it. YOUR LOCATION and YOUR LIFESTYLE ( married or single ) is the KEY to being happy in the environment that YOU CAN CONTROL and CREATE if YOU desire !!! Oh, a HINT For your MEDICAL needs, register at a THAI MILITARY HOSPITAL, many have English speaking people.

A BIG Army hospital in Korat, several buildings. Ask for info at the MAIN building where to register - take PP as they copy your PP photo on ID Card OR Google for address, any Taxi should know address.

At 80, its impossible to get health insurance at a reasonable cost Here is a HINT for those that can NOT afford OR self insured because of age. I am ...REGISTERED... and use a Thai MILITARY Hospital for my needs. Many x-pats are unaware you can use. I am on a retirement extension. YOU MUST REGISTER 1ST and get THAT HOSPITALS ID CARD. Slightly more cost than govt civilian hospital, way, way, way less than a private hospital. I do NOT know if insurance or children are accepted. Many Military medical professionals speak English. 1st TIME Initial CLINIC doctor visit - took my medical history & quick physical, sent me for blood work...then to a 2nd doctor( waited about 30 minutes ) to read the results. PRESCRIPTION Blood Pressure meds ( as expected ) $28.00USD total cost including 1 months meds. FAST FORWARD: 3+ years later had a hospital stay ( NOT BP related ) 5 and 1/2 day stay. 5 days x-ray 5 days labs 5 days meds 1x1 & 1x3 3 GOOD meals daily 2 doctor visits daily in a 4 person ward, 3 Thai's and me - 2 nurses on duty 24/7 ON DISCHARGE, 3 months of meds 1x1 & 1x3 Cost UNDER $1000USD. EXTREMELY happy with the care I received. ( The 1x1 med in the US would cost me $128.00 monthly if paying cash )

"""needing to extend my 1 year Non Imm O Visa (based on Marriage) for 2 months""" Why just extend for 2 months? As per your posting, can you met the requirements for a YEARLY NON-O EXTENSION ( NOT A VISA ) based on MARRIAGE. If so, add a multiple re-entry permit if you will be travling, and you are good to go for 1 year with no problems. ( Remember TM-30 and the TM-47 <<= 90 straight days physically in INSIDE Thailand.)

"""went to The Army Hospital and paid only 4,900 Baht for the same exact test using....""" One of several reasons I am registered at the Korat Army Hospital, Use Thai Military Hospitals / Doctors as I have suggested via posts here before. Have been been using 12 years, before Army, was using the Navy Hospital in Suttahip.