cleverD

Visited the site over the weekend and although progress is slow building A is now virtually complete ,building B is also well advanced with the lift installed (not working yet)and flooring and air con in most so not a lot to do.Building C is a bit slow but I think they have been concentrating on buildings D and E with building D almost finished and Building E up to roof level.

I think they are trying to get the buildings to a state where they can finish the infrastructure ie car parks and all the common areas then they can release the completed appartments whilst still being able to finish the other blocks internally.

They confirmed that the 1000 baht a day penalty had kicked in but the girl I spoke to tried to tell me it was only for 180 days.The contract says it kicks in 180 days after the proposed completion date and if the penalty mounts to more than than the balance owed then the deficit has to be paid by the builder before hand over.

I am sure there are a couple of the negative posters on this thread will take great pleasure in ridiculing all this but the genuine buyers have there contracts which are in English and the wording is quite clear with no nasty small print.

I hope this helps the genuine buyers and the negative posters have found a life over Christmas.

I dont think Samui Airport would take a 747 jumbo.

bigt 116,

dont know which destination you had at this flight, but Thai never used a aircraft to Samui, which had an Upper deck,

maybe you had the seats outside on the wings...???

The first time I applied for a visit visa for my GF to the Embassy in Bangkok in 2005 it was in ring binder format and they made my GF take every thing out of the binder and submit it loose.My GF has since had 4 more visit visas and we now submit in loose format but do use small bulldog clips on bank statements.Submitted her 3 month post dated visa application at 3.0pm monday 14th dec and received an sms that her passport was ready for collection at 10.30 am wed 16th,I think very good service.

The festival takes place in the heritage park which is many acres of historical grounds with no hotels near. The nearest hotel would be the Ayutthaya hotel in the old city which would be walkable to the festival.There are guest houses nearby ,the best known being Tonys Place which offers budget accomodation.I have never stayed in either but I think you can find reviews on line.

Visited today and about 60 workers very busy,starting the floor of building C so should see that starting to rise within the month.The first building ( A ) is nearing copletion with kitchens and air con now fitted but I cant see that they can be occupied until a lot more of the infrastructure is complete.TAG developers are now being financed by Kasicorn Bank and the office is now confident of completion mid next year.Lets hope it stays on target !!!

Anyone visited recently? How many workers working?Much progress?

There is a shop right net to the visa application centre on the second floor which will sell you a cheque which is accepted in the VAC,I think it cost us about 200 baht but it saved running around banks.I did this middle of last month so this is a current practice.

We are planning on getting married in september and wondered if any member could give advice about getting married in perhaps Bali or Macau.We have both been married before and would like a quiet wedding somewhere we can avoid the huge family gathering.Any help would be most appreciated.

Bump,Does anyone know if these visas are issued.Surely someone has applied or am I going to be the first !!!!

My girlfriend has had three visit visa's in the last 3 years and has travelled to the UK 5 times all together.We are wondering whether to apply for a 10 year visa this time so as to make her visits more flexible.Has anyone ever had a 10 year visit visa issued and also has anyone had one refused and for what reasons.The visa costs nearly 3 times the price of a 6 month visa which is good value if you get the 10 years but not so good if they take your money and only give another 6 month visa.Any information on 10 year visa 's would be most appreciated.Thanks

Bought my appliances in Tesco Lotus in Ayutthaya before home Pro and Big C opened.But I think between the 3 outlets I'm sure you will find what you are looking for.Washing machine has just gone down after 4 years heavy use,3500 baht to repair!!

Had mine laser cleaned last year at the Bangkok Pattaya hospital and there was a vast improvement in whiteness,cost about 10k baht and spoke to my dentist in the UK before having the treatment and he assured me there was no bad side effect.

Just fitted the Gas adjustable rear shock absorbers and it has transformed the car.No more annoying bounce over speed bumps or potholes and it makes the car feel far more sure footed on the road.When travelling long distance I used to travel at 90/100 kph which felt safe,now 120kph feels very solid and safe.There are 28 settings from soft to hard by turning a small knob in clicks in a clockwise direction which can be done anytime when fitted to the car,I turned mine to 10 and that feels hard enough but if you keep turning you can have very hard sports suspension.

They are made by a company called Spax and are made to order and are not cheap at about £150 a pair but in my opinion the best money I have spent on this car!!!

The long term parking is 150 baht a day but the buses are old and not easy to get luggage on and off,and on the return journey you have to change buses to get to the car park a right pain.I also noticed how few cars were in the long term park!Better to park opposite the terminal if only leaving a few days and I think quite secure.

Bump.. Nobody ever taken their GF to europe by car!!

Thinking of taking the GF to Europe in may next year using my caravan.The problem I see is the travel booking for the Schengen Visa,I can of course make the ferry crossing booking in her name and the first campsite we can book in advance but will this satisfy the French Embassy?

We used the caravan this year in the UK and it was a great success because the GF could cook her Thai food on the outside cooker (no smell inside)which of course we couldn't do staying in hotels.Just wondered if anyone has any ideas.

Bought one a year ago it's a 1.3S and have done about 16000 klms.The car goes very well considering the size of the engine,most of the time we use it locally but last month we had 6 large adults and 5 large suit cases on a roof rack and it cruised easily 160 klms down to Pattaya.

The same 5 passengers were in a fortuner I rented in Phuket and they reckoned it was easier to get in and out of the rear row of seats in the Avanza and thought there was more room.

My only criticism is the rear suspension,the shock absorbers are not up to the job and when going over a bump you get a lot of rebound bounce which is very annoying.I have been in touch with a company in the UK who make gas adjustable shockers and can custom make to fit most cars,I am back in the UK today and have ordered a pair which I will get fitted when I return in Dec and will let you know if it cures the problem.

Overall I am happy with the car It's economical and sits high off the ground which is very useful around central Thailand at the moment with the flooding,its has stacks of room inside and the rear air con is great for the rear passengers.

Yes I did mean the UK,any other country offer a 10 year visit visa ever?

I see from the latest visit visa application form that the 5 and 10 year options have been made available again due to the introduction of Biometrics using finger scans and a digital photo.

Would be interested if any one has applied or got one yet,my GF has already had 2 visit visa's and wonder if she might be elegible for a 10 year.

The Grand Hotel has a Gym and large pool which non residents can use for about 100 baht a session or also has a monthly subscription system.

My 2nd visit visa application was turned down because the average balance in my private acc. was only about £600 and even showed £2000 a month being transfered in from my business acc.

I transfered £3000 into my private acc for the next application and we were successful.It appears to me that the ECO is only interested in available cash to support the visit,not the reserves you have which are not always immediatley available.

They exit stamp your passport at the ferry terminal in Macau and you get a visa on arrival in Hong Kong.

I did the exact trip you are planning to Paris by Eurostar.The embassy require evidence of travel,the travel agent I booked through got me the eurostar tickets and I photocopied them twice and sent 2 seperate letters to my GF,only one arrived !!!.

I think once you have your visit visa to the UK a Schengen Visa is a paperwork formality, They want photocopies of bank statements and a photograph with a white Background.

We found the French Embassy very Helpful.

hello Davie,I have a house on the road towards Utai where my GF lives but don't spend that much time there as my business is in the UK and when I visit we normally go off travelling Asia.

There are times when it would be good to talk to a farang over a beer let me have a contact no and will be in touch sometime. Cheers Dick.