hoffy66

Why was he forging Pakistani passports?

slow down on the drugs,, and read what is written,, not always the same as what your brain is telling you???

Is that really the building? over 100 killed, 380 injured?

How can you get that many people into a building that small?

I think that building is where the stored fireworks were stored, i read that a spark did get into the building and set the other ones off, as to where the people were i am not sure.

I am undoubtedly a minority in this opinion, but I believe the "bad" ex-pats are those who come to Thailand to build, build and build more and more condos, hotels, high-rises, pouring cement over the beautiful nature of Thailand, making real estate prices double, or triple in another real estate bubble which is sure to come, with nature being squashed by this encroachment upon plants, animals, habitats, and all the like that comes with "development', which people of all races, countries and belief systems embrace because the never-ending quest for profit rules over nature. Thailand is a sort of nature paradise and I am sad to see the same mentality that has become a legacy of endangered species and destruction of natural areas becoming the target of developers to pour down another shopping mall or condo or boutique or something essentially unnecessary, but deemed "essential" for the economy of Thailand, with everything soon to be shiny, new and renovated, prices up and up, flowers, butterflies and animals beware and the beautiful nature manicured into lots. How many decades of this "hip" development will it take for Thailand to become plastered over and made into an artificial cement paradise with species dying off? These are the ex-pats that I think are the "bad" ones, who should be discouraged from coming to Thailand to make a fortune off development, but these are the ones deemed the most precious and worthy of the most respect.

I agree with everything you have just said,,, even 10 years ago this was a nice place to live, before the prices of everything went through the roof.. due to expats

Oh those nobel banks ! Lending at 6.25% while we get 1,5 % on our savingsaccount. How will they stay in business ??

You really need to shop around, i was able only last week to get 2.5% in a savings account.

This guy is just up for some games, i am sure. there are many other places he could go, and to think this girl is just there for him ?? yes right.

The other thing you need to look into is the cost of getting a visa for her, last time i heard that this cost is now about 8,000 aussie,

Hi People,

Thank you for all the replies, i am very grateful, i will give them another go tomorrow.

I have just gone down to my local [Ayutthaya] TMB bank to open a account, i am a aussie married to a thai, i am in the house book, when i did try to make the account i was asked for a work permit, i am retired , sorry we cannot make account?? i was told that if i put it in my wife's name that is okay, so i walked out , does anybody have some answers to this, never got around to seeing my passport , i am confused.

Thanks in advance.

Hi impartialobserver,

I am not sure where you are going with this??? what is your question?? so far i have not seen any question from you???

maybe i do not understand the financial area of thailand, but i was looking for some general info. regarding putting my money into some sort of stocks or high return bank funds, i am of line for the next 24 hours, but will come back then, thanks for your insight.

Hi Pinot,

I was looking at investment funds like banks or something like that , no i am not buying any type of buildings, as i have heard that selling further down the track is not easy, might look at some type of stocks if the rate is good, but more wanting to find something that has capital guarantee.

Hi to all,

I am looking to bring about 100,000.00 aussie dollars into thailand in the next week or so, i am buying a second hand ute. but outside of that , i am looking at what and where i can get some good investments happening? i have read some of the earlier comments on here, but most of them seem to be fairly dates 2012-13, am i better to do foreign funds at the bank[ i have a bangkok bank account] or is there something better out there?

thanks in advance for the advice ,

I'm thinking of transferring some Aussie Dollars via internet banking from my Aussie bank a/c to my Thai bank a/c. Will I get the exchange rate offered by my Thai bank (the receiving bank) or will it be set by the sending bank (ie Aussie bank)?

Make sure that your aussie bank does send the money as aussie dollars to your thai bank and then have it exchanged in to thai baht,

Changed my BT50 last week Monday..

Always change at or around 400,000 km, the late 2011 BT50 was nice to drive + trouble free, before the Mazda always had the D-Max, the 2008 D-Max had many problems and changed that at 300,000 km. the BT50 was a joy to drive..

Taken over 2 months thinking and re looking at both the New Mazda and the New Ranger.. in the end went for the Ford, so far with only 782 km done is nice, the reason the Ford just better inside, nicer layout and is the new model, the Mazda in a new face lift only.

So managed to get 70,000 discount on the Mazda, but only 60,000 baht discount on the Ranger + loads of Freebies.. made my mind up on Wednesday the week before and took delivery on Monday.

now await the white plates, [told before end of this month] so can then add the canopy to use as a work horse.

So what was your buying price [if you don't mind me asking ?] and where did you pick it up from, what motor and tranny, also what extras. sorry for being a bit curious but i am not sure if i spend the extra for a new one or keep looking for a good second hand one,

For the way people (all people) drive here, we're lucky there aren't more trailers!

I second that, can you imagine thai people trying to back a trailer, i did my 5 year license late last year, and watched many many thai trying to do reverse parking, 7 times before they fail, many had to come back next day to have another go, the other thing that would worry me, is the way they cut in just behind ,if i had a trailer connected, i think it would have lots of dings from this action.

it was not long ago that the new zealand woman was killed in south thailand, after winning her fight, one of the guys on this forum said that it would be best to burn the body in thailand and then use a approved container to be able to carry on the plane, no cost as far as i know'[ new zealand parents were looking for donations to bring the body back home]

The thing I've never been entirely clear about is how the criminal records stuff works if you're not in your country of origin. It looks as if applying from (say) the UK involves a pretty rigorous process, but I can't see that something similar happens if you do it in Thailand or elsewhere. Or does it?

You don't need a criminal background check to apply for a non-o visa or to apply for an extension based upon retirement. Same for the medical.

That is only needed to apply for a OA visa in your home country.

i am applying for a A.O here in australia, for that one the thai embassy require a federal police check, as joe said not required for the other visas the cost for the visa is $ 225.00 here in Queensland the thai consulate has closed down so all my stuff has to go to Canberra it takes about 5-8 days, do require a medical just for some diseases[ not fitness] i do not have the link to the site, but my friend did download the forms it is a form A plus the medical form.

OK, browsing the "Requirements for Obtaining and Renewing a 1 Year Driving License" in the Pattaya Forum;

1) I need a Residency Certificate issued by the US Embassay in BKK, cost $50.

2) If I have a short term Visa, including ME Tourist or O, I can only get a 1 year licenses, and upon renewal can again only get a 1 year license.

3) Cost of the license is 500TB + 200TB for health cert + US$50 for residency cert + cost of translating documents. Not to mention the cost of traveling to BKK. Not to mention the frustration of doing all this.

And again, I can get the International Permit in 10 minutes, at a location 10 minutes from my home in the US, for $20.

So getting the Permit is far cheaper and exponentially more convenient.

I just want to know if there are any pitfalls in case of an accident or serious traffic violation.

I think you need to check with your insurance, as to having any accidents[car] i have heard of the insurance not working if no thai license after 3 months, my thai license was easy at Ayutthaya, about 5 years ago, just neede queensland licenses classes [ 4 copies] a medical , and show my wife's yellow house book, it was for 1 year, i went back late last year, for my five license and did 2 days one of which was just listening to thai policeman, tell us all about road rules [all thai] next day it was computer test must get 45 out of 50 questions right, then just a small driving test, just reverse park, for my 2 licenses i think it cost me 500 baht, and like others have said it is used for any number of things.

The contempt comes long after I have been polite and respectful and have done everything they requested patiently. Then go back to be told there is something else required. How would they go being on the receiving end of their own treatment? Oh that's right they're deserving of more respect because they just happened to be born into a life of priveledge. It's wrong and it's a bully mentality. They do just because they can. This has happened to me nearly everytime and most times my missus has dealt with it so it's not like they're telepathically picking up on my feelings. Last time we were told needed photos and a medical only to come back and be told (with a chuckle) they weren't required. 2 hours of our time running around trying to park, shelling out money. They sent us to immigration to get a letter and when we get to immigration they tell us we need a letter from transport to give immigration to get the letter from immigration. Your feeling my contempt for that reason. It's ridiculous

Kenny 202, i too am a aussie, when i went for my thai license i had to download the queensland license classes and make 4 copies, for them i was then put through the tests and i did have to have a medical, no proof of residence, i was given a 1 year license 1 for the car and 1 for the bike, when i went for my 5 year which was late last year under the new rules, i sat in class for 1 day and just listen to thai speakers talking about road rules, nothing in english no books to help with the rules, then the questions 50 for each license basically the same for bike and then 50 for the car, need to get 45 right, then down to do the practial drive test gee was that a laugh, just watching thai's trying to reverse park, hey but they get to have 7 goes before they get a fail, and have to come back next day to try again, after all of this 2 days you then will get your license. learn to love it, otherwise it will destroy you...

How many bars are there where you come from OP?

Out of that number, how many of them are open? Or do you know what goes on behind closed doors?

How many visitors do you get coming and going month in, month out to your home town/city?

IMO, countries like Thailand are holiday destinations where normal people arrive after saving for their holidays. What happens on holiday is not normal practice as regards how most people act at home during their normal existence and they probably have just reason to kick back and let themselves go for a while before their return to routine.

In my years here, both as a bar fly and as a bar owner, i have seen many professional people acting like teenagers just turning off age for the period that they were here for. Loving every minute until it ends.

Everyone has a story, has a reason. Don't judge too harshly.......................

i just want to second that, adding i do not have any idea where you got your persentage from?? did you get to find all the farangs in thailand and can you please inform the rest of us as to how many live in thailand, and of that how many are like you just here on holidays, trying to enjoy themselves, i for the life of me, have not seen any evidence from you as to be able to judge other people's actions, i say live your own life and if this behaviour does not sit well with you, maybe you need to find another country to have your negative thoughts .

Hi folks,

Having come to thailand for the past 10 years mostly only staying for 3-4 months, except for building my house, i am amazed that there are not more car trailers here, can some one shed some light why, i was going to sell my 65 bettle and buy a late model SUV, but i still have to bring more supplies home so trying to find out if i can buy a trailer do i need some other license other than my thai car license , or am i better to just buy a dual cab ute?? hey thanks for the good advice in advance.

thanks for reply out of intrest how much is the non o visa as the agent who was going to take me to vietanne quoted whole trip 8500 baht

• Single entry 2,000 baht.
• Multiple entry 5,000 baht.

Hi Elviajero,

I am coming back to thailand, and will enter on a i assume exempt at swampy, can i then go to vietanne or the other place that i cannot spell sukumvet i am sure that is not how it is spelt, i want to get a retirement or a marriage visa, or must i get this visa while i am still in aussie?

Recently deposited 500k with KK for one year @ 3.9% rate was sitting at 4% for a while dropped before my deposit

Sorry for being a dummy, but can you tell me which bank is KK ?? i am wanting to bring a large amount into thailand when i come back from aussie, and am not sure if i should do a transfer or carry it with me?? all help appreciated.

Not sure but for me a non smoke I think it is a great idea can save lots of life's .

Good on the thai government if it is true should do it in the west as well .

You probably also think that stopping people from buying beer in the 7/11 between 2pm and 5pm is going to save loads of lives as well ?

It will do ABSOLUTELY NOTHING to stop smokers from buying what they want they will just go elsewhere. Something that nevers seems to occur to people like yourself or the people who make these ridiculous laws

We are not talk about drinking we are talking about smoking.

You need to look at what smoking cost the governments in the long run with what happens to long time smoking it is a dirty habit and if I had my way I would have here like back home smokers smoke in the car park not were people eat .

And back home the new laws come in next year no more smoking in mall and were people eat out side the best thing that can happen.

Because people like you that smoke don't care about non smokers like me .

Maybe you should go home to your pristine country, have you not noticed this is Thailand?? we do what we want, drive around and see for yourself....

What you looking for!!!!! Pm me have IZUZU 4 door 2009.

Hi Sutty,

Can you send me some pic's of your izusu also some info. as i am looking for a used pick-up, i want a auto, light colour, full service history,

thanks eddie.

can you tell me the name of the insurance company as i will be looking for cover next month, thank you eddie.