johng

The next time I visited Khorat, I called into the Driving Center there, and walked out with a Thai License within 30 minutes. (and that was with the old type British licence, no International permit)

Thaddeus.... what documents did you need to show to get your Thai licence ?

I got a rate GBP=52.812

Syd are you sure about that rate ? you should be getting more like 55 to the pound.

I seem to remember someone on here saying you can pay at the post office..tried searching for that but the search engine is bad.

Also heard you can pay the tax for 5 years in advance ( saw the sticker on some ones bike) but when I asked at the transport office in Chonburi ...they said the only advanced payment option is to pay 3 months in advance of the sticker expiry date and only for one year ?????????

To get the tax I believe you have to have evidence that you have the compulsary insurance, your green or blue book.

and the fee.

If your car is over 7 years old or motorbike 5 years old, to get the compulsary insurance you have to have the TorRorOr

( road roadworthiness certificate ) that you can get from a local garage with this sign.

They really should try and sort out the process of registering new owners, changing provinces paying tax etc

at the moment its a bureaucratic nightmare

You forgot the pictures................

Locations of GSB in Pattaya:

There is one upstairs in Carefour.

Time share ..scam

OK Jingthing... thanks for that, shame there's no tandoori.

There is also a half decent (but not great) low priced Indian buffet catering to Indians staying at a mostly Indian customer hotel.

Jingthing,

Where is the Indian Buffet ?

They sell Lao beer at the "Lighthouse restaurant " its on the Bali Hai pier road just as it starts to climb the hill to

the Royal Cliff hotel, you can't miss it because you'll see the fake lighthouse.

They have it in bottles, 60 baht for a small one and draft..but had run out of draft when I went there.

To me beer Lao tastes marginally better than Leo and not really worth the hefty premium of drinking it at the restaurant.

The cashier at this restaurant said that Lao beer was available in many of the bars in Pattaya and Jomtien but I've never seen it advertised.

They definately don't have it in Friendship.

I've had no dealings with this company, but notice they have been around for a few years

maybe worth a look.

http://www.kkthai.com/eng/

it will be among the very best high-rise project in the Patttaya area.

Untill (no)View Talay buy the land where the derelict shell is now on the seaview side

and build the bestest 27 storey monstrosity, just like they did in front of the Jomthien Complex Condotel.

The Suzuki Raider R150 is something like 58,000 Baht in Thailand, and it is one of the motorcycle for which there are huge amounts of modify parts for.

Richard-BKK can you point me in the direction of some modified parts for my Suzuki Raider ?

I would like a stainless steel exhaust and maybe bigger carb and sprockets for a bit more speed.

Well it seems reports of the Suzuki Raiders demise,while true... where short lived, as from the 15th April 2009

there is now the Suzuki Belang being sold in Malaysia

www.suzuki.com.my/index.htm

forum.autoworld.com.my/index.php?showtopic=88563

salihinr.blogspot.com/2009/04/suzuki-belang-r150.html

I hope to see them again in the Suzuki showrooms in Thailand.

The Thai bank will be closed now.

so may be worth contacting Nationwide just to make sure they haven't stolen your details.

http://www.nationwide.co.uk/contact_us/tel...one_numbers.htm

OK Chaimai thanks for that.

Do you hapen to know if I have to "apply" for this downgrade in person at the branch ?..or should I phone them ?..

maybe it can be done online via the website or email.

If its in branch then I'm stuffed cos im not flying 6000 miles to sign a bit of paper

edit:

well barhopper seems to confirm it must be done via a paper form ( not online )

Dear Member,

Thank you for your message. I confirm that the newly announced charges for overseas withdrawals will only apply for cards issued by Visa - Nationwide Debit Cards, Credit Cards.

For CIRRUS Cash Cards these are operated by MasterCard and will not be introduced the newly announced charge.

So back to the question ...how do we go about getting the CIRRUS Cash Card instead of the Visa debit/credit card

from Nationwide ?

When I opened my account with them I asked for a cash card but they refused saying my credit rating was " too good " ha ha

asked for my mobile number

Seems very strange.

Why is Krungsri the only bank you can use ?

Is your card a CIRRUS/MASERCARD or A Visa debit card ?

Try to use Kasikorn ( Thai farmers bank ) or Government Savings Bank instead ( they are still not charging the 150 baht fee )

Or maybe you will have to go into the bank with your passport and get the money over the counter.

www.movieseer.com

works fine for me...though I have been caught out a few times by them giving incorrect info for showtimes in Pattaya

so be warned.

Would be nice to know where to get the free school uniform and equipmet vouchers as promised by the government

( I saw it on tv )..my kid goes to Pattaya 8 school too so any info how to get ths "freebee" would be welcome.

Thanks for the update Langsuan Man

There is supposed to be a some free WIFI by TOT/CAT along beach road

I haven't tried it though.

www.pattayadailynews.com/shownews.php?IDNEWS=0000008627

www.pattayatoday.net/index.php?action=show&type=news&id=4631

From Bangkok bank website.

International Cards – ATM Withdrawal Announcement

The Thai Bankers’ Association has announced a new regulation

permitting banks to charge a surcharge for ATM withdrawal

transactions on VISA, MasterCard and JCB cards issued by banks

in foreign countries or any other bank or financial institution not

an ATM Pool member (e.g. AEON card). The surcharge will be 150Bt

per transaction and will be in effect from 17 April, 2009.

well this is slightly different...because it says its now "permited" to make the charge not that they will make the charge

so theres still a glimmer of hope that some banks wont make this charge.

Will they be throwing water on Walking street and other places in Pattaya tonight?

Yes and on the 18th and 19th and maybe even the 20th

errrm last time I went and had a look they had ripped everything out of the cinemas and it was taken over by arcade games machines...don't think it will be back somehow now that there are cinemas at the Avenue and Central beach.

johng, maybe you could try The GH Bank they have a branch in Pattaya at

8/51 Moo 6,

North Pattaya Road,

Gotta be worth a try.

Its a bit out of the way for me as I stay in South Pattaya..

maybe, if I remember next time I have to go to the big post office in Naklua I'll have a look for it....

but in the meantime I think I'll use the "take your card into the bank with passport"

option..untill something better turns up.