pepsi666

Oh the joy of being over 50+ and having a Retirement visa

I was hoping to lease or buy a property in Thailand and retire out there, what sort of visa would I need ?

I dont have a Thai wife, (I have an English wife)

Would I have to do a visa run every 90 days ?

What are all these types of visa's ?

I would advise against going out,

I dont mind getting wet, but I do object to sitting down in a resturant and have some fool hurl buckets of water at you (the German owner was NOT amused and shut up shop for 3 days)

But if you do HAVE to go, tee shirt and shorts would be favourite, and leave your camera or anything you have that ISNT waterproof at home (or Hotel)

I found it was mainly Europeans (and in this I include aussies and americans) who were the main culprits for hurling buckets of ice cold water into taxis, resturants, cars.

Never had any problem with the Thai kids or any Thai people (they seemed as pissed as some with the antics of the 'farangs')

We stayed in our hotel until it was over, I hope never to be thee when its on again.

But you'll have to expeirience it yourself (you may regret you missed it )

Just a word of warning, check before you take up any offers of a bottle of wine in your room from ANYONE on an internet site (unlless you know them already, but maybe I'm TOO cautious)

I have a company phone that I take to Thailand on holiday with me, do I register this when I get there in Febuary 2006 ?

My wife has a (Virgin) pay as you go, does she need to register this as well ?

I have to admit it is getting worse since my first visit,

My wife was mugged last year on our holiday over there, it was only a few gold chains she was wearing, but it was a bit of a comedy

He grabbed the chains from her neck and was off,

I went after him, through a hotel pool area, he went over a fence,

I followed, a quick sprint down the road and I caught him, had a quick 'chat' about the error of his ways, and the tourist police turned up and beat the crap out of him and then put us BOTH on his motorbike, we ended up outside  the guest house where it happened, and the security guard grabbed him and HE beat the crap out of him, screaming in Thai, after about 5 minutes the REAL police turned up, the tourist police told them what had happened and THEY beat the crap out of him, he was looking in a really sorry way by now, some smart shiny shoed policeman drew his pistol and pionted it at him and said bang and grabbed hold of him and was going off round behind the guest house,

I asked the guest house manager what the hel_l was going on, he said, he ws a bad nman and had done it before and this was the best way to stop him as he was bad for tourist, I thought this was a bit extreme and got the guest house owner to translate, that he should go to the police station, they were somewhat surprised by this, then old shiny shoes said that we should have some photos of the crime, so out came the digital camera, and trhe re enactment started, him grabbing the gold chains and him legging it with me in pursuit, after a short run, I realised this bloke werent stopping, so off we go, the police hadnt noticed this until the guest house manager and my wife pointed it out that we had BOTH gone, I caught him AGAIN and had another 'chat', the police turned up AGAIN and this time the batons came out and did they lay into him, then an open back van turned  up and we ALL piled in, with the prisoner cuffed to the floor in the back (4 policemen, us and the driver)

NOW, this is where the farce really begins, a detective turned up, looked at the pictures and asked us if we could attend court the following week, we said we wouldnt be there as our holiday would be over and we would be back in the UK,

He said they would have a trial there and then, 3 police turned up, the detective became judge, WE were the prosecution, and the prisoner was HIS OWN defence, the policemen were the jury

Now we have 2 non Thai speakers(us),

4 non English speakers( the prisoner and 3 policemen) and

the judge (*the detective) who can speak a little english,

But we never said anything, the prisoner never said anything, the 'judge' looked at the pictures, showed them to the 'jury' and that was it

It lasted ALL of 2 minutes, he was found guilty and the 'judge' gave him 5 years, we left and the last we saw of him was 5 or 6 policemen beating the hel_l out of him in the yard behind the police station with their batons, I dont know whether he lived long enough to serve his 5 years

Is this the usual Samui kind of justice ?

I was quite happy with giving him a 'chat' and telling him not to do it again

But we will be back again in 2006, I like Samui and the Samui people

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A very entertaining story

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I wish it WAS A story, but sadly its VERY true, still got the police reports and the bloody ridiculous police photos.

I have to admit it is getting worse since my first visit,

My wife was mugged last year on our holiday over there, it was only a few gold chains she was wearing, but it was a bit of a comedy

He grabbed the chains from her neck and was off,

I went after him, through a hotel pool area, he went over a fence,

I followed, a quick sprint down the road and I caught him, had a quick 'chat' about the error of his ways, and the tourist police turned up and beat the crap out of him and then put us BOTH on his motorbike, we ended up outside the guest house where it happened, and the security guard grabbed him and HE beat the crap out of him, screaming in Thai, after about 5 minutes the REAL police turned up, the tourist police told them what had happened and THEY beat the crap out of him, he was looking in a really sorry way by now, some smart shiny shoed policeman drew his pistol and pionted it at him and said bang and grabbed hold of him and was going off round behind the guest house,

I asked the guest house manager what the hel_l was going on, he said, he ws a bad nman and had done it before and this was the best way to stop him as he was bad for tourist, I thought this was a bit extreme and got the guest house owner to translate, that he should go to the police station, they were somewhat surprised by this, then old shiny shoes said that we should have some photos of the crime, so out came the digital camera, and trhe re enactment started, him grabbing the gold chains and him legging it with me in pursuit, after a short run, I realised this bloke werent stopping, so off we go, the police hadnt noticed this until the guest house manager and my wife pointed it out that we had BOTH gone, I caught him AGAIN and had another 'chat', the police turned up AGAIN and this time the batons came out and did they lay into him, then an open back van turned up and we ALL piled in, with the prisoner cuffed to the floor in the back (4 policemen, us and the driver)

NOW, this is where the farce really begins, a detective turned up, looked at the pictures and asked us if we could attend court the following week, we said we wouldnt be there as our holiday would be over and we would be back in the UK,

He said they would have a trial there and then, 3 police turned up, the detective became judge, WE were the prosecution, and the prisoner was HIS OWN defence, the policemen were the jury

Now we have 2 non Thai speakers(us),

4 non English speakers( the prisoner and 3 policemen) and

the judge (*the detective) who can speak a little english,

But we never said anything, the prisoner never said anything, the 'judge' looked at the pictures, showed them to the 'jury' and that was it

It lasted ALL of 2 minutes, he was found guilty and the 'judge' gave him 5 years, we left and the last we saw of him was 5 or 6 policemen beating the hel_l out of him in the yard behind the police station with their batons, I dont know whether he lived long enough to serve his 5 years

Is this the usual Samui kind of justice ?

I was quite happy with giving him a 'chat' and telling him not to do it again

But we will be back again in 2006, I like Samui and the Samui people

I would be there, but I'll be serving in Iraq over Christmas, so have drink for me, luck to you all

1) A friend called me from Samui and said it hasn't stopped raining for the last two days...

2) It was bloody freezing last night in the UK...

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Thats strange, they both happen about this time of year, I reckon it the weather, I mean -2 in the UK, thats normal for this time of year, Scotland was -5 last night, nothing new about that either

I was in Samui last November and it rained 7 days solid, some heavy, some light, but it was definately rain, I assume its the monsoon season, so thats not really unusual either

The only reason this weather affects so many people is they live around the edges of a country (check it out) and there are more of em, so it affects more people, DOH!!

Sad news ! Those people (farang tourists) who support this should take a long hard look at why the vast majority of tourists go to Thailand.   Certainly in places like Pattaya 70 to 80 % of tourists are there for one reason and one reason alone and to get and the ladies. People who say that Thailand does not need these people have probably been going there for years settled and have adopted the "reformed smoker" attitude

I think that this is primarily aimed at the Thai population. Thailand is and will remain my home from home. However my hard earned $ will be spent on my next holiday where I can have a beer on the beach, buy shrimp off beach traders haggle for wallets I really do not want or need

For those of you who may want to do as you please, drink and shop where you please when you please I hear Goa is a nice place. For those of you who go to pattaya for all the wrong reasons (as some would think) the ladies are as pretty, if not more so and cheaper.

My very large budget put aside for a holiday is going to another country and not Thailand.  The country I hope to retire in and have invested heavily in. I wonder how many other farang will do the same? If only 10% of repeat regular visitors do the same that represents bad news for the Thai tourist industry

When I am old and crusty and have adopted the "reformed smoker" attitude I will post my pleasure at these draconian measures. Less tourists will definately bring the cost of living down in Thailand 

Sorry bit off topic but good for Thai population general health (no booze)  very bad for tourism indeed.

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Same as this guy, I have bought a place in Thailand and hope to retire out there, but I dont like being told what I have to go to bed, and I dont get 'pissed up anfd leap out of windows' or throw up, I consider my self a guest in whatever country I am in and treat it as such, lets face it, you can be slung out whenever they like, especially if you bring yourself to anyones notice, but as someone actually said, not all farangs get druk, they are they for the love of Thailand and the people, not just the booze and punch ups, we can have them at home and cheaper (if the flights are included in a few nights out)

Will it be finishing at 12 am ? or are the local politicians invited as well

I travel to Thailand with my family twice/three times a year and I enjoy a drink with my meals,and a drink in a bar and that maybe after 12am, of course it will affect the tourist trade and the bar's and clubs, people who go to the bars will just drink more in a shorter time, and then you end up with the same problem as the UK, binge drinking and drunks fighting and throwing upo in the streets, I come to Thailand to get away from that (and I know people get drunk in Thailand, but I have never seen the stuff that goes on in London, Nottingham, Newcastle, Liverpool)

Just another example of politicians knowing what's best for us all, I'm a big boy, I know what I enjoy, I dont need some daft arse politician telling me that if I smoke and drink I will die, (if I stop, will I live forever )

The only reason they want us to live longer is so we can pay more taxes, the dead dont pay any more taxes

Also I dont like being told, its midnight GO TO BED, I come to Thailand to meet the people, speak to people, see the sights, see the country, not a gloriefied piss up (its cheaper to do that at home, I dont have to fork out for plane fare)

And I bring my wife and kids (when the kids are asleep, I go to the bars with my wife and we meet the working girlls, its no big deal, christ they swap baby photos)

look its easy, If you think the driver is drunk, dont get in the car/taxi, lets face it you have a choice, its your life, and if you arent in the car with a drunk driver, you dont get nicked, christ its not hard to figure out

And on the topic of human rights and personal freedoms, does any victem of a drunk driver have any rights ? way I see it any person who drives drunk has foregone any rights he had, he is now in charge of a lethal weapon (assume its your wife/child/brother/sister/father/mother gets hit by a drunk driver will you really be worried about his human rights and personal freedoms ?)

Bangkok traffic is bad enough without drunk drivers, but hey, its your city, do what you want with them

I dont mind paying, its just that temples are not my favourite places to visit, and I really cant see a student passing up a way of making a few notes, just for wandering around his home town and showing a few of his favourite haunts, lets face it the tourist will be gone in a few days any way and most oof us have got money to burn (what seems a little to us is a lot to the locals)

So is any enterprising student going to put a note up offering trips around GM ?

This is just a suggestion (I'd like to see if anyone takes it up though)

Most people visit Chang Mai and dont really know what there is to do or see in Chang Mai, and as there are a lot of students around and some with a bit of time on their hands, couldnt some of them advertise to show the real Chang Mai, rather than the tourist reps, the students seem to know the best and cheapest places to eat and some really intresting places to visit, and they know the real places,

I was at at what to do and see while I was there, a student saw us poring over street plans and offered a bit of advice as to where do go and what do (Wats and religeon are not top of my list to vist) but he was helpfull and refused offers for payment, all he would accept was a coffee, (I was prepared to pay more, but I got the impression he would have been offended if I offered cash)

But if some students offered their services to show tourists around for some sort of payment, I'd be more than happy to pay THEM rather than the hotel reps or so called guides

Any Offers ?

And the chances of more floods/storms are ?

Who knows? One wouldn't have thought there would be multiple major floods in Chiang Mai already this year. Weather-forecasting is exactly how reliable where you are?

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I am presently in London (Heathrow to be precise, but thats where I work)

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Well---- there you are---- that explains it all ---

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How ?

I will be up and down hills in Wales, up and down Pen-Y-Fan this weekend, lugging a 40 Kg Bergan, rifleand doing 60Kms in 20 hours, its commonly known as the Fan Dance, and this is to earn this badge

And the chances of more floods/storms are ?

Who knows? One wouldn't have thought there would be multiple major floods in Chiang Mai already this year. Weather-forecasting is exactly how reliable where you are?

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I am presently in London (Heathrow to be precise, but thats where I work)

I'm supposed to coming to Chang Mai on the 13 October, is it worth my coming over?

Things will be fine by then (barring another big storm/flood).

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And the chances of more floods/storms are ?

Thanks for the reply

What is the situation now ?

I'm supposed to coming to Chang Mai on the 13 October, is it worth my coming over?

How is the center of Chang Mai, how many businesses have been affected ?

How are the Koolpunt project homes affected ?

Any chance of updates,(of any further impending flooding they would be really appreciated)

I did notice the kids are enjoying themselves,

I am hoping anyone can give me some pointers on moving to Chang Mai

I have been looking at various properties in Chang Mai and I am considering retireing there

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I would be moving there with my wife (who is NOT a Thai)

What is the weather like? (apart from this years flooding) temperatures High and low's ?

What amenties are there ?

What's the shopping like ? (weekly groceries)

What is there to do ? *I dont play golf!!

I have a fairly good retirement plan

What about a visa ? What type do I need ?

I know that a European cannot own land , but can own a property, that is why I am looking at leasing the land (after 30 years it wont worry me what happens to it)

Any advice woyld be much appreciated

I am visiting Chang Mai on the 13 October -20 October 2005 to view prperties while I am there