Stevemercer

We got our Chanote land surveyed by the Land Office a year ago before we purchased the land (5 rai). We particularly wanted to do this before going to the expense of building a boundary fence.

The 'new survey' resulted in some of the concrete markers being moved slightly. I think we lost 1 metre along one boundary, but gained 1.5 metres along another boundary. The neighbours were present to sign off on the finished survey.

One neighbour disputed whether a tree right on the boundary was on his land or our land. Apparently it had some value for timeber. We needed to cut it down to allow sufficient access. He wanted 70,000 Baht before he would accept it was on our land. The former land owner (who lived next door) sided with us and the neighbour caved. We'd been careful to keep sweet with the old guy by throwing a bit of work his way!

After we treated the surveying team to lunch they redid one of the boundaries adjoining an easement and public land, and gave us an extra metre along that 50 metre boundary.

In conclusion, I don't think you will loose any land, but you could loose a few nice shade trees and have a boundary or two shaved if you do not have a representative present.

But I would not loose any sleep if you were not able to organise a representative.

9 hours ago, OneMoreFarang said:

I guess it also depend on how bad that possible "rainy day" can get.

 

If a "rich" person loses his income and the mortgage can't be paid anymore and the house and the car is soon gone then "everything" is gone.

 

If a poor person has no income anymore but a few relatives then maybe he has to eat rice and fish for some time and maybe sleep hard - not a huge difference to the previous life.

 

In comparison the poor person does not really lose so much.

And that is why the wealthy want to keep Thailand just the way it is!

1 hour ago, DrJack54 said:

Another spin is that it's not what the Thai line is for. I have same partner 7 yes up and we travel often. Never once used the "Thai line". I see guys tacked alone with the gf, wife, partner etc in the Thai line..... queue jumpers. 

It's the same in Australia. My Thai wife always goes through the 'Australian citizen' line with me and vice versa. Why not?

It used to be that my wife bought clothes and things in Thailand and took them to Australia to save money.

In the last 12 months it has been the opposite. She'll buy brand new pajamas. T-shirts and other clothes for the equivalent of 20 Baht ($1 AUS) each in Australia and bring them back to Thailand. The material tends to be thicker and good for the cooler weather current in Thailand. She can also sell the items to her friends as 'winter wear' for 100 Baht.

Many big cities built monorails 30 years ago. The Sydney loop used to be fantastic. The Simpsons even did an episode during the decade of 'monorail fever'.

But they have all closed down. The economics just aren't viable. Pattaya is thinking 30 years behind the times!

I think the Baht will finally start to depreciate next year.

The government and central bank are finally starting to 'jaw bone' the Baht down (talking it down) which will cause uncertainty in the market and at least halt its appreciation (assuming they keep talking it down).

The government/bank still needs to take firm action to actually bring it down to boost exports and tourism, and bring the economy to a soft landing. They need to follow through and use the country's foreign reserves to buy dollars and take the pressure of the Baht.

Of course, they will still make a nice pile of money when the Baht comes down and they can buy it back cheaper.

When is TAT going to promote tourism from Taiwan? According to news reports, that market grew by over 25% last year, and Taiwanese are big spenders.

Plenty of Thai people hug and even give a little kiss on the lips - young, old and in-between.

Before coming to Thailand I'd read that you can't touch Thai people on the head or feet. I've never found that to be true. Even my mother-in-law enjoys a head massage. Some are a bit fussy about their feet. Others need to have known you for more than 15 minutes or have enjoyed a few beers.

It can be a little embarrassing when a distant relative gives a full body hug and won't let go!

My wife is constantly telling me never to touch a Thai lady I have just met at a social function because it is impolite. I guess it is impolite if the lady does not want the attention. But if they start first ....

Maybe they should allow legal casinos just in Pattaya - that would give the old town a boost, put it back on the tourist map, and bring back the buzz.

30 minutes ago, mfd101 said:

All of these kind of comments assume that, contrary to all appearances, The Guvamint has a clever plan and is implementing it.

Yes, the man in charge does have a clever plan and is implementing it. Unfortunately it is not working, but he is not willing to change it.

It all goes back to the 1997 Baht crash (when it was floated) and the rich lost a lot of money. Many have long memories and have vowed never to let this happen again. The higher the Baht, the better. Unfortunately the Baht is getting out of hand and the government is unwilling to take meaningful action to reign it in.

The government can still bring the economy to a soft landing (rather than waiting for it to fall hard off a cliff), but first the PM has to admit there is a problem. 

In my view, the PM is the problem because he doesn't see that there is a problem and he will keep implementing the same plan.

Most countries that are serious about tourists already issue multi-entry tourist visas? Australia typically issues a 12 month multi-entry tourist visa (allowing up to 3 months stay at a time) even though it doesn't share any land borders.

6 hours ago, CGW said:

My understanding & observation of "politics" and politicians is that they NEVER accept responsibility, why must the current Prime Minister break with this practice that has been going on "forever"?

It amuses me that people still "dream" that politicians are decent human beings, your might want to reevaluate your expectations, they are totally unrealistic at this point in time.

I guess what I am trying to say is that there is one man who stands in the way of getting the economy back on track, and he is not going to go away willingly..

The Prime MInister has been presiding over the economy for over 5 years now. If there is a problem with the economy then that man must accept responsibility.

7 hours ago, thequietman said:

It's actually a cultural thing. There are no suggested retail prices in India. Nothing is labeled, so it pays to talk with several vendors before making a significant purchase and so they do it here as a matter of routine. 

 

Frustrating for the vendor, yes, but it's quite normal for them. ????

It is an interesting cultural difference.

Yes, Thai vendors love to argue price, but if you finally reach agreement on price, the expectation is that you will buy.

In Indian culture, even after getting the best price from a vendor, and agreeing on a price, Indians often continue to shop around to get an even better price.

As for the economy, any blame must sit square with the PM who has been heading up the government's economic team for over 5 years now. 

Other farang I have known have faked religious holidays and other religious reasons why they can't eat at certain times, must fast on Sundays, or whatever. Sometimes it's the only way to politely excuse yourself from the orgy of eating that consumes many Thai households.

22 hours ago, cyril sneer said:

full of low-lifes and I have no interest whatsover in what others have to say

 

i've also heard it's a cult filled with lonely people who don't even have a drink problem

 

going off topic here...

Have you been watching 'Fight Club' again?

21 hours ago, madmen said:

Amazing every farang who has meter removed was innocent, what nonsense. Never had mine removed in 13 years and never heard of anyone of hundreds of expats Ive known over that period have theirs removed....Pay on time , pay correctly without stuffing it up..not rocket science

 Ha ha.

Ours was removed even though we had paid the bill. They meant to remove a neighbours, but took ours instead. They even tried to charge us a re-connection fee.

I guess the loud music is why so many elderly Thai have to shout at each other. Their ears have gone after decades of loud, amplified music.

I found it funny at a local Thai bar we sometimes went to which had a video music set up. If we played western music loudly, it was always turned down at the request of the Thai patrons.

Once the Thai music started it was turned up and up until it was just distorted noise.

The pump usually overheats when there is no water coming from the tank. I think you need to check if the tank is full of water. If not, the problem is in the supply from the mains system to the tank. Maybe the pipe is blocked or there is a problem with the supply.

If the tank is full of water, then the pipe from the tank to the pump is blocked.

7 hours ago, Yinn said:

It the English translation from Thai news. Dramatic 

 

Yinn can do another one for lovely feeling. 

 

 A foreign gentlemen had overstay his visa by 26 days. So three kind immigration officer went to visit him. 

They knock the door, and wait for him to open. His thai boyfriend open.

 

They asked the English gentleman politely “What happen sir”

The England gentleman reply “oh, sorry, I was to lazy to get the visa”

Officer  “ oh, ok, the rules say you will have to go now” 

Gentleman “Yes, I know, I very sorry about that.”

Officer “ok, when you come next time, not forget to do correct visa next time” 

 

 

Not dramatic.

So is it the original Thai story that was dramatic, or the translation by Thai Visa into English?

As other posters have said, every country catches over-stayers, but most don't deem it to be news worthy in any way, shape or form.

In Australia it happens 10 times a week, but it is just immigration doing their job. I would have thought there was no need to do any media or a big song and dance for routine immigration work. Maybe the immigration police want to give themselves a pat on the back?

3 hours ago, NotEinstein said:

When a plot was selling for 20K, 3% made sense, but we are now talking 5 million. 150,000 for an introduction is way over the top in my estimation. In the UK, in the past, I have paid between 1 and 1.75%, which were quite considerable amounts due to the values involved. 

 

As for my wife, like most, getting 10K for little time and virtually no effort would be most welcome.

Agreed. Out here in the country sales will be through word of mouth. I doubt anyone would use real estate agents. The commission might be 3% for anything less than 1 million Baht, but would max out at 50,000 Baht for more expensive properties.

I know a farang who was desperate to sell his land. Finally, a Thai lady found a buyer and the deal (4 million Baht) was done within a week.  Her commission - he paid for dinner for the lady at a local restaurant!