richard_smith237

Can't quite believe it... second page in already and no one has posted the comment.. "you travel all the way to Thailand for Western food"... !!! In Bangkok there are loads excellent restaurants serving western food, so its easy to get a great variety of foods from all over the world here.... ... BUT, as far as home cooking is concerned, a number of imported items are heavily overpriced which can dent the enjoyment somewhat.... The news about the Wine Tax decrease is welcomed, although I'll believe that when (IF) I see the prices come down to levels we see in Europe.

I think the owner needs to sign the 'ownership' part... If you haven't I think you need to before you can sell on the car.

Hit the jeffing roof !!!!!... There's a lot of whatiffery involved with planning for the future and educating our children, hopefully by then he'll be able to make his own informed decisions... But before he can, his 'informed decisions' will involve the knowledge that if he does something such as 'riding a motorcycle' or going on one, there will be a strong reaction. At 18 he'll be able to drive our car... but most likely he'll be overseas at Uni anyway - so he'll be out of that potential motorcycle loop anyway.... The greater risk as I see it is lunch breaks at school and just after school IF one of his mates has a bike and they decide to pop out on it... I have no control over that... but will still guide him not to. Thats a little different and doesn't really prevent the area of greatest risk... which IMO peer pressure and getting on the back of a mates bike.... Thankfully, the sort of school he's at is not one where many kids would have their own bike anyway - but some may.

Brokers are helpful for this.... I've used Pacific Prime which have given a range of options. To keep costs down many go for in patient treatment only options... so regular sicknesses etc are not covered (but can usually easily be afforded out of pocket). Also something to consider is whether the coverage is from a Thai insurance company or an international Inusrance company (and some companies have both and international) and they have different levels of oversight. At your age, 50,000 baht (for just you) seems like the ball park for inpatient only plan with a decent limit. The 5000 baht option will be very limited.

You don't sign the cars blue book. I only sold it for 10k, so cash payment at my house, all witnesses on the POA were her BF and my wife. Yeah... thats why I'm not certain... I remember signing the blue book.... But I think it was to sign it 'as the owner' which is something I'd never done at the beginning of ownership... I think this is why I recall signing it when selling, because it was only at that time that I'd noticed it was not signed in the first place (by me as the owner).

You're over egging the defence of stupidity there Nan... Can you really think of any example where the guys could get their bags but not get dressed before getting in the taxi ?... Its not as if they were caught by a Tsunami and thats all they had with them... That's different from whats commonly called being a complete tit !!!!

Its been 5 years since I sold our last car (to a Thai, without going to DLT myself)... I recall signing the Blue Book (although to be honest, I could be mistaken on this - its just something I remember doing, or rather, something I think I did)... Paperwork was prepared but I kept it in my possession (including blue book).... We went to my bank and paid in the cash. Then signed the paperwork and handed it over. They drove the car away and that was that. ---------- The car I sold previous to that was to another foreigner. He was a lot more vigilante but thought he could pay me after he received all the documents etc (he was a little paranoid)... That wasn't going to work for me.... ... We went to the Bank, paid the cash into my account, and we went together to the DLT to make the transfer.

Come off a bike at 80kmh and the speed will be high enough for you to never forget that incident !!!!

This highlights the differences between Private care in Thailand and public health care, in Thailand and / or in the UK (for example). With private care, it could be argued that money is no object and all and any tests are carried out, this of course can be a good thing when investigation is carried out for anything no matter the cost... But, there are negative aspects to this as well... - Firstly the increased costs of insurance as unnecessary and expensive investigation is carried out. - Money (hospital income) sometimes takes precedence over individual safety (and often inconvenience) Not in Thailand, but elsewhere (private again). - I had a growth on my leg... Saw a Dr, he referred me to a surgeon who mentioned cancer and said he would cut a golfball size chunk from my leg and then send it for biopsy. I saw a second opinion from a dermatologist who identified exactly what it was (hemangioma) and treated it (cut it off) there an then (a very simple quick procedure). What I learned there is that some Dr's / Surgeons will go straight to the knife option and lack full knowledge of their disciplines - as always, its ok to question, seek second opinions and be cynical of anything that doesn't make 100% sense.

As bbko mentions above... how important is the trip ?..... But also, how do you get through check-in and through security etc impacts the time you need. If you don't have fast check-in and security, getting to the airport 2 hrs before hand is fine (IMO). If the flight is incredibly important, aim to get there earlier than that. Traffic is also a key factor, allow suitable time for traffic depending on travel time... IF you are planning to arrive at the airport 3 hours before departure time, you are leaving more than enough time IMO... get through and chill out.

Really? How many of them? I think being young is a time to have fun, get experience, make mistake, and learn. Having sense is a possibility, but it sounds very boring. I'm pretty sure that any young person will want their own scooter / motorcycle... that desire for independence and freedom is more instinctual than anything else. I'm already planting the seed for my son that in no uncertain terms, he is not getting a motorcycle, he is not going on the back of any motorcycle his friends have, he's not going on any motorcycle taxi's.

Actually, drowning is the leading cause of death in 1-17 year olds in Thailand, but transport injuries is also excessively high and perhaps a close second... The primary reason for that is 'no helmets'... IF every person on a motorcycle wore a helmet (including children) we'd see the death and severe head injury rates plummet... That doesn't mean a binary argument exists that motorcycling is suddenly safer, its still more dangerous than a car or taking a bus... BUT... what alternatives are there when there is no convenient public transport ? and socio-economics means all poor families have motorcycle and not a car ? So.. this 'dichotomised' argument of 'Motorcycles dangerous - Cars safe' is flawed because society does not live in that binary world - the odds and stats can significantly be altered when authorities enforce safety measures.

Thats an ill thought out statement... any access could be blocked for any reason... Or, it could be something else in your area, near your house, in front of your house etc that you are not happy or comfortable with... Others stories on here have involved people walking their dogs and letting them crap in their front yard or in front of their house... The point to which you address is about 'handling a conflict'... so suggesting... I wouldn't let that happen 'cos I'd do things differently pretty much ignores the whole discussion. But... this takes the biscuit.. I agree, there's no need to be a shrinking violet - but you imply you are powerful and mighty can 'force' those around you to respect you - the comment lacks a sense of reality to the extent that its somewhat delusional.

No... IMO its not ok... But financial constraints are also involved, when those are in songthaews or the flat-beds of pickups its because there is nowhere else for them to sit - I'm not implying this is ok, but that is simply done out of necessity. Whereas in this example, there was no necessity at all and the actions were taken out of nothing more than reckless disregard. To place perspective on this.. I recall a similar reactions when Thai's do similar.. - When a child was sitting on the roof (through the son roof) of a car. - Someone on the roof of a car (pretending to be swimming). Links below.. Then we also have the 'superman' in the west... Video below.. https://thethaiger.com/news/northern-thailand/outrage-on-social-media-over-child-sitting-on-roof-of-moving-car-in-northern-thailand

Agreed with the implied message that 'safety standards is also extremely poor elsewhere'... when posting all of the above photos... BUT... what is ignored is the difference between necessity and stupidity... The actions of those sitting on the window-sills of the car is outrageously idiotic and most definitely in need of a response.

I agree.. but that also depends on the 'pecking-order'.... i.e. the social status of his wife... An educated person from the Thai middle class wouldn't have an issue with going round and politely asking of they can move the car so they can get access to their driveway. Agree on both options here.... I've seen both. I disagree... If you present well (firm, polite, of status) Thai's will listen, but if you rock up acting and looking like a bum, yes you will be judged - it depends how you yourself 'appear' in the Thai pecking-order. Taking the blend Whisky is the right idea IMO - its presents a very clear message that you are avoiding confrontation. But, I'd also want to deal with the issue myself... I know how I'd react if my Wife were insulted and I want to protect her from that possibility. Agreed... take the softly softly approach.. no harm in trying... then see what happens.

'Lets make the car I want moved out of the way, unmovable'.... Genius !!...

Seems about right... & go to a different doctor for a follow up in 90 days... I've had similar issues with some doctors where their logic conflicts with common sense. i.e. I had kidney pain, suspected a stone... They took an X-ray and CT scan... It was there - small enough to pass. I was given medical to enlarge the eurethra and enjoyed pi$$ing like a race-horse for two weeks. After two weeks the Dr wanted to do another CT scan. I pointed out that an abdominal CT scan exposes me to about 10mSv (which is about the equivalent of 8 years exposure to natural background radiation / as comparison a regular X-ray is about 0.1mSv - equivalent to about 10 days / estimates vary of course). I asked for what gain is a second CT scan required, what decisions would be made from any of the imagery ?... Dr couldn't answer other than to say we'd know if I passed the stone or not. I asked does he really want to expose me to a further 8 years or radiation for something on which no decisions will be made ? I pointed out that if I have kidney pain again, then I'll know it didn't pass... If it did, then there will be no further pain, either way nothing is going to be done anyway, unless I have major pain. Dr agreed that no further CT scan was required. (a follow up routine medical a year later with abdominal ultra-sound and and x-ray didn't find any further kidney stone).

What is it with some guys who've had failed marriages.... do you truly believe your sweeping generalisations and projections are true of everyone else's relationships ???

I think the British media would have us believe that the UK is a dangerous place with youths running around with knives ready to kill us all... The reality is quite different... There are of course 'areas of cities' that are unsafe for the average person to be walking around in at night... Thailand tends not to be the same in this manner.... Yet, whenever I'm back in the UK safety is not a concern that springs to mind and thats for confrontational crime and general safety. When it comes to indiscriminate confrontational crime, neither is that a concern in Thailand either, but, as for 'general safety' its something I'm quite alert to... (i.e. electrics / roads / pavements etc etc)... Knife crime in the UK does tend to be a a concern in underprivileged city areas.... mirror that across to Thailand and the same concerns exist, we see this in the news all the time... I'd say the knife crime in the UK inner cities is as bad as it is here, but its not indiscriminate here, so most of us get the feeling its safe here becase its not reported on to the extent it is the UK. Gun crime... a lot more here... and a lot more unhinged tender ego's driving around with guns.

There.. you answered your own question... It was probably a legacy of Covid and no one bothers with it anymore.

You're painting a picture of your Wife and its one that highlights she is vastly under-qualified to handle such a simple issue... There is no harm in going an asking...

Agreed... & the solution is simple and doesn't even involve fines the poor people can't pay... It just takes effort from the Police, which is why it won't happen, especially as there is no money to skim off... But... IF (big if) the Police simply confiscated the keys of any motorcyclist riding without a helmet and they didn't get their keys back until they had a helmet in hand, this would force riders to wear the helmet and also show that it is the helmet wearing itself which is a priority. Sure, some would get their mates helmet and not bother putting it on the next day, but over time the potential inconvenience would yield results... ... the issue of course is that this is an inconvenience to the Police and we can't have that !!.

I have to disagree a bit on that...I see working class Thai's taking loving care of their car or truck as it is a very large "investment" to them they seem very proud to own a nice vehicle (gives them face) Admitedly there are also some who never do any maintenance but same can be said for a farung owner. Things like that are very cheap to get done in Thailand for most cars/trucks not your Rolls Royce or Bentley. It was just a Thai-bash... as with anything else, there are those who look after their stuff and those who don't.

The 're-entry permit office' as you call it... is actually 'Immigration'... it doesn't close. So if thats your only concern, then its moot... the 'stress part'.. I don't understand that, but its individual, so if someone prefers to do this before hand, thats their choice. Obtaining a re-entry permit is very simple to do at the airport or at CW...