PaoloR

Buy a rechargeable taser from an online store or tourist market.

Not to actually tase the dog!

Press the button and see the reaction from the dog - they hate the sound and run.

I use one when cycling in the morning - carrying a stick on a bicycle is too cumbersome. It works well on the pack of 8 dogs at my local temple and so far, 2 years, none has ventured near.

16 hours ago, stat said:

Great post very helpful!

Is 120 also the right insurance number when one rents a scooter? Is there even a complete insurance for scooters?

 

Thanks George!

Every scooter rental in my location only offers 3rd party insurance (pororbor) which is dubious at best with many doubts as to whether they will pay out on a rental. When I made inquiries on behalf of a potential renter; every rental company here refused to supply a scooter with full insurance - "not possible" was the answer every time.

When enquiring for a friend who wished to rent a bigger bike for a 2 week tour, the companies we tried, despite initially claiming to have insurance, were unable to provide any paperwork on said insurance.

Draw your own conclusions!

On 3/16/2024 at 8:29 PM, Keeps said:

Totally agree. Have made well over 200 bookings with Agoda and not once experienced a problem. 

I have had hotels recommend going via Agoda when trying to extend a stay as they are not prepared/able to match the price.

 

Also, I have a regular apartment I stay at in Chiang Mai who will always do me a 'tickle' beneath the Agoda price despite it being less than half the standard price quoted on their own website.

 

The other plus point with Agoda is I accumulate cash to redeem and get VIP prices and upgrades.

Agoda and other sites are commercial companies who need to make a profit. When they give you cash redemptions and other "goodies" who do you think is paying for them - you with higher prices! 

Book through the hotel website, or direct, if they won't give you a better price than a booking site; then walk away.

On 3/16/2024 at 8:08 PM, cdemundo said:

Agoda is very reliable and maybe the least expensive way to book.

Recently I went to the front desk at a hotel to extend my stay the price they quoted me was more expensive than Agoda.

I mentioned that fact and was told to go ahead and book with Agoda as they could not match Agoda's price.

Complete bull excretion, Agoda charge hotels between 5% and 20% for their services. Most hotels will give a discount for a direct booking. However, larger chain hotels will often make their front desk charge a higher price as there is no record of the transaction. If the guest pays in cash, the money may not reach the account. A symptom of them not trusting their front desk staff.

In addition, there are not stop scammers attacking hotels at the moment, duplicating OTA (online travel agent) websites, pretending to be previous customers with a complaint, requesting bank details to transfer a deposit etc. So, chain hotels have implemented strict policies to mitigate losses which involves restricting the front desk's ability to make any financial decisions.

If the front desk won't offer a discount for a walk-in, then go elsewhere or ask for the manager and point out you are saving him money.

Agree on the 4 wheel drive statement. I have a 2 wheel drive and a 4 wheel drive which we use on the farm.

A good set of tyres makes the 2 wheel drive perform better than the 4 wheel drive on the cheap tyres my BIL bought.

Even for daily farm use rarely is 4 wheel drive required.

Yes they are giving title as follows: "The Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives is distributing agricultural land title deeds to 25,000 farmers across the country today (Jan 15), converting the “Sor Por Kor 4-01” documents, previously issued as permits for land use in reform areas, into official land titles."

Note: as stated these are agricultural land title deeds and have a restriction on building a habitable building on such land. After a number of years ownership and continuous agricultural use (7, I think) you can apply for the next deed up which has less restriction.

This may seem like a great idea to you but please do some research before diving in. If this is such a good idea why is nobody else doing it?

Getting a visa at KL is a bitch!

They only see a limited number per day. Any (and I mean any) discrepancy or missing information and they will tell you to come back again with correct docs. You then have to hang around in KL waiting for the next appointment.

My daughter went through this process some months ago and I had to shell out for extra flights, extra hotel nights and suffer a lot of painful phone calls. She had every document in place and in order, but they made up new "rules" seemingly out of spite. 

Songkhla

She cannot get a visa from the British Embassy - they no longer issue them. She has to apply at the Trendy Building through VFS Visa application centre 

Just book a hotel on one of the websites where you do not have to pay up front. Cancel as soon as you have the visa - easy you just give them a copy of the booking, there is no follow up.

2 hours ago, sandyf said:

I do not know how you can describe a 13 page application for a tourist visa as simple.

Virtually every year for the last 15 years I have been repeatedly supplying the same information.

I would suggest to anyone doing it for the first time to create an application and complete it. That application can then be deleted and a new one started, second time around provides a bit more clarity on what may be required.

Then apply for a 5 year or 10 year visitors visa - less hassle and works out cheaper. If she has had 15 visas and always returned, then it's a shoe-in

I have rubber and palm farms. The variety of insects on a palm farm is huge, not so much on rubber.

I hike in our nearby National Park and if you stand still - off the main path, there are many different kinds of animals. However, in primary jungle you hear far more than you can see. My local National Park organises overnight stays in a hide and there you can see many animals (and be eaten by mosquitos!)

The primary visible wildlife, after insects, are birds and here, by the sea, we get a plethora of raptors and parrots, plus migratory birds such as open billed storks.

Finally, a wonderful variety of reptiles, lizards and snakes are everywhere.

Just join a local group and you will find lots to see.

Note: I just checked and my local National Park has not re-instated nature watches at night since the lock-down. They say they have plans to do so.

Joy Dental in Krabi Town.

Avoid Ao Nang (tourist prices) Krabi town has local pricing as it has few tourists.

18 hours ago, alyx said:

Agreed but

Regarding the other religions none of them had allowed to let us have the use of their cemetery ???? The protestants are the only ones open to other non protestants. 

From a legal point of view, I would hope that it will be conducted by the booking and not according to the mood and beliefs of some judges as there is clearly a breach of contract. I am pretty sure that a Committee does not have the right to change the terms of a long standing situation ( 5 years after I had "bought"  my plots) .... otherwise we are in for a long fight ....and it can be very long between the first hearing and the Supreme court. Hopefully it will turn all right

 

You have far more faith in the Thai Judicial system than perhaps it deserves. Moods and beliefs are how the system works; along, that is, with facilitation payments!

I have won cases in Thai courts and lost them as well and am still no wiser after 25 years as to how the system works. It changes from court to court and province to province.

If you do proceed it is essential, in my opinion, to have a local lawyer who regularly appears in the court and knows the magistrates and clerks of that court. Many local lawyers are not qualified to act in the court so the choice is important and the cost can be quite high!

I would attempt to go to arbitration in front of a magistrate first. It is non-binding but much quicker and the opposing party usually folds if the magistrate rules in your favour.

Good luck!

Bear in mind that Buddhist Thais believe they will be re-incarnated so are all cremated - they are unconcerned about their mortal remains.

Muslims in Thailand regards graves as sacred - so move to a Muslim graveyard - that is if they will let an infidel in, which is unlikely.

The people with the strongest belief about the sanctity of graves are the Chinese. As far as I am aware there are some Chinese graves in common ground but most of those I see are private property. Probably worth investigating amongst the Chinese community.

Chances are that in a civil suit you will have a Buddhist judge who will not fully understand your emotional need to be together and may rule against you. It will also be a long, probably depressing and expensive process.

Good luck!

I don't share your beliefs but do not dispute your right to live by them.

I received a life certificate form by snail mail - it took 4 weeks.

Filled it in and returned it by EMS

No pension paid and a further letter saying they had not received my certificate. (3 weeks this time)

I responded with proof of delivery, but they are insisting on a new certificate (sent yesterday) and will not pay until they receive the new one.

They also said they had a backlog and it would take time (unspecified) to re-instate my pension.

Altogether a complete sh**-show!

I personally know two Europeans who have recently moved to Krabi from Phuket.

One has very recently rented his very nice Phuket villa for 300k per month on a two-year contract.

The other is pissed because he signed a two-year contract to let an identical villa six months ago for 200k.

Both are renting in Krabi for less than 30k per month and considering early retirement here in Krabi in houses to be built off the proceeds from Phuket.

Yes - regularly at the Stadium Jakarta

Entered yesterday at the Southern border (Betong) - no mention of any covid certificate requirement.

They did require a TM 6 form to be completed.

I have big bikes (1200 c.c.), medium bikes (800 c.c.), small bikes (310 c.c.) and automatic scooters. I ride them all and enjoy them all.

But - what about my newest bike with an up and down quickshifter? I can ride using the clutch or ride without using it as I choose - problem solved!

Don't forget that while the set up costs may be relatively low, you have to add to this the cost of monthly and annual accounting fees; you cannot do this yourself. If you do not make sufficient income (or indeed any income) then you may, as I did, find them on your back enquiring rather too closely into your business.

The location you do your extension in is key. Used to use an agent in Phuket when I lived there, as it took so long and was a hassle.

Did mine yesterday in Krabi - in and out in 18 minutes without an agent. Took me longer to get the form from the bank who, despite my showing them a copy of the form they gave me last year at that branch, did not know how to fill in the form and had to phone Head Office.

As for doing the paperwork it is simple.

Copy of relevant passport pages every page signed.

2 photos.

Bank letter.

TM7 form filled in and signed.

Hand drawn map of residence location.

Photos of me in front of house (use the same ones every year).

5K is the standard rate here for a clean extension, all the agents know each other as they meet every day so don't look likely to give a reduction.

5K for what takes me less than an hour (time to prepare papers and time at Immigration)

I'll keep the money!