Altalake

There can be no worse crime than molesting kids. Like many RC priests have done for decades.

Technologybytes - you have it totally wrong - he should be flung into a deep & dark dungeon and the key must be thrown away.

Boots has some good stuff - ask the chemist.

Dio sumtin' or other.....forget how to spell it - Counterpain is tops too.

Bangkok is really just another big Oriental city. Very polluted, and traffic is awful.

Phuket is a big island (same-ish size as Singapore) and has clean air. Quite a lot of fun expats, bridge clubs, good (if costly) golf, diving, horseback riding - you'll find lots to do. The restaurants and bars are good too - mind you, they pretty well are in many of the towns in Thailand.

If you are looking for girls, there are plenty there too. Patong is the place for that, but the Thais themselves do not usually like it as a town.

A lot of the advice you get on these posts is good and sensible, but you must try for yourself. Kata might indeed be a good place to start.

Richard Smith 237 has it summed up.

Nowhere is perfect.

Williyumii has it right. Why not two of her "sisters"???

Is it not odd how so many wish to come and leech off one in Phuket - but if YOU want to go and have a few days with them......their grannie is visiting for maybe 2 years and they have no room!

"Fair weather" mates my Friend!!

Ubonjoe is the King of the Visa queries. All he says is Gospel. Fact. Maybe he should take over the Immigration Dept??

Jes' kiddin'..........!!

Surge protectors are really a Must - especially for semi-fragile electrical stuff like PCs/TVs etc.

RGS2001 has it spot on - but.....the medical is a real issue as he says. If you have a problem - e.g. stroke/heart attack/bad accident/whatever, it could cost a bomb.

Otherwise US$3,000 a month is pretty good for your wants and needs. Watch out for the gals tho'!!!

The US of A - and indeed many Yankees - wish all the rest of the world to be just like them. Just as the Romans used to ponce about as self-styled cocks of the walk.

God forbid.

Been an Apple guy for about 12 years now. Got fed up with Bill Gates' stuff.

I have an iMac 21" and MacAir 13".

Apple is a VERY greedy company tho', and you pay thro' the nose for all. Apple is a grab-your-money machine.

But I like the OS (Operating System) more than Windows - and I must say it is more "fun" to use than the PCs. But you certainly pay for it.

As for Security, I seem to get just as much Spam and rubbish as I did on a PC.

Farma is 100% right.

Have the guts to report it to Nok Air.

One in Cherntalay - near Laguna and 2 mins walk from the Villa Market there - called the "Hong Kong". Original name of course.

Maybe it plans to cater for the influx of Mainland Chinese tourists - who are coming in greater & greater numbers.

It is expensive, but it serves the usual Chinese food.

Our wonderful (Brit) Developer was conning us and doubled all our power bills- the extra went into his pockets.

The only sure way to check it is to get a separate meter and an "expert" to check it - which we did.

"Sorry" was all he said when he was caught.

There isa reason why wine in the box is cheap.

Can you guess it?

Rather a dumb question to ask.

Who's business is it but yours - and your GF? No one else can make it for you.

In Phuket Town Immigration they have had Farang volunteers assisting for ages, and they are a great help to many.

Mind you, we have never had anything but help and courtesy from the Thai Immigration staff there.

As "Green Job" says, reverse and accelerate.

Yunla's post made me crack up.

Anything for a good laff!!!!

Hong Kong will do it for you - but it is an expensive city to spend a couple of days in.

But maybe easier to get to than the Philippines.

Andaman Club is the best way to do it - but............the mini-bus drivers can be lethal.

There is a golf course at the Andaman Club, so if you play you can take your clubs and spend a night there.

It is quite a pretty drive (4 or so hours) from Phuket to Ranong. All in all a bit cheaper than going to say Singapore or KL.

UbonJoe is the visa guru.

Had 5 days of a visa run in Luang Prabang in January last. It was enchanting. It

is a UNESCO Heritage site, plenty to do. Local food not as good as CM, but the French food is tops. Blue Elephant for example. River is OK, worth a couple of hours' trip, up to the temple (354 steps) too. Night market is well, the night market. Same-same all over. People very nice and gentle.

CM is also nice, but LP is really worth the effort. Get in the front of the aircraft if you can, the Immigration Qs can take an hour if you are in the back of the line.

Have fun!

Schlog is right - long term is best - too much hassle/crookery with short term rentals.

CBRE are very good overall for common area stuff and organizing security for big Developments - but you pay a pile of money for them........

We have been going to Phuket Immigration at least once a year to get our 30 day extensions for over 10 years now.

We have never had a problem - tho' they are very busy all day long. The staff are nice and cheerful, and joke with you from time to time. The European "helpers" make life much easier and are a great boon.

But some of the riff-raff that comes through, ill dressed and almost rude (needing showers and shaves), make one shudder and embarrassed to be a european.