dlclark97

To be a licensed tour guide there is a class that has to be taken and a fairly comprehensive test you must pass to be certified. I believe the license is good for five years. Not sure about the renewal process. My Thai wife was certified a few years ago and the test was not easy. You also must wear either a suit or nice slacks/dress and a dress jacket to all classes.

Yes, to take him out of the country you must have her written permission, or you will be denied travel at the airport or other place of legal departure from the country. My stepdaughter from my wife's first husband had to provide this document before we could take an overseas holiday.

Try Lazyboy in Bangkok. Large multi floor showroom, not cheap but very good quality. Leathers or fabric.

28 years USAF. Atlas missile systems maintenance 4 years, Instrument repair and calibration (field - Metrology), no degree but numerous AF technical and professional courses, 19 Years with another company started on the work bench in manufacturing building gas analyzers; So2, NOx, CO and CO2. End products were air pollution monitoring systems. Travelled much of the USA and many countries internationally including Thailand installing and servicing these systems. The sampling system for these systems were often high up on a power company smokestack, many between 500 to 800 feet above ground level. Has been a great life!

As stated above, I understood there always was a special key slot for fire and emergency crews to manually unlock the doors. I could be wrong but using the jaws of life to open the doors may have done some damage to the door operating mechanism that will need possibly expensive repairs. I had an elevator experience recently that I would not want to repeat. I lived in a Jomtien condo on the 28th floor. At 9:00 one morning the power to all four elevators in the building was turned off for routine maintenance. I found this out about 9:30 as I had to leave for appointments with a lawyer and a court appearance later. On the way out, office staff told me power would be back on around 2:00 in the afternoon. As I had no choice, I had had to walk down 28 floors. I am handicapped and walk with a cane. I side stepped all the way taking about 45 minutes. What if there had been others with a medical emergency at that time? I don't live in that condo anymore.

I can already tell you their answer. But, you are SO naive it would be a waste of text space. Do you even understand about the sinsod! Do you know you will more less be adopting her immediate family. Be prepared to be the 'payer' at family dinners at restaurants. Basically, GROW UP. Come here, enjoy your holiday but make NO long term plans at least until your 10th visit when you will be more aware of things here. Above all, DO NOT agree to send money so 'she' will wait for you. BTW, you could be chatting with a 'ladyboy'.

I understand an MRI is expensive. I have had a few. What you want is to be sure the person reading the results is 100% qualified to produce an accurate diagnosis. This is not the time to skimp because of a few thousand baht. BNH (Bangkok Nursing Home) on Convent Rd is my suggestion. Am sure there are several with qualified doctors to interpret the results.

I am also somewhat physically handicapped and hate the fact that so many non-handicapped people use these handicapped parking spaces. I can walk short distances using a cane. Long distances can be very painful. I do drive a 4 door pickup but much of my issue is getting in or out when I can't fully open the door. Once at TESCO, now LOTUS on Sukumvit in Pattaya I did complain to the manager that every handicap parking space was full of food delivery motorbikes. His reply, "Sorry, there is nothing I can do about that." Another pet peeve is especially the 4th floor (and possibly others) at Central Festival where the handicapped spaces are often filled with the Toyota Alphard vans.

Don't forget the asian lady that pee'd on the bus steps.

I can't remember the name of it but there is a major hospital in Bangkok that is highly regarded for eye care/surgery etc. Might be worth a few minutes research to see if you can identify this hospital.

I had bought over my years here 4 Chevrolet Colorado 4 door pickups. As I am aging, I registered the last one in my wife's name as it would be easier for her when i passed. Then came the arguments and eventually divorce. Although financially able to purchase a vehicle it would have become one of the divorce assets to be divided. For 20 months I was stuck renting until the court decision gave me that last truck. By all means, register it in your name and include it in the property/assets you detail in your Last Will and Testament.

Most likely the tires in the worst condition (that is to say if there was any difference between the wear front and rear) were on the rear wheels. For years when there is a major difference between wear on the four tires, I put the best ones on the rear wheels. Logic for this, when a front tire blows out the CG of the vehicle moves toward the front placing a heavier weight on the front wheels. This allows in most cases for a controlled stop. However, when a rear tire blows the CG moves to the rear lightening the weight on front tires often causing loss of controlled steering.

What I have to say about this would be best left unsaid!

The first vehicle I purchased in Thailand was a Chevrolet Colorado 4 door pickup. It took 5 months to get rid of the red plates. Technically you cannot drive the vehicle between dusk and dawn. I was stopped and given a ticket for doing this shortly after dusk as I was between Chantaburi where I had been visiting, left later than expected on my way to my home in Rayong. The traffic stop occurred in Kleang and they did not except my excuse. Over the months I had 2 meetings with the Chevrolet management that unfortunately did not improve the delivery time of the white plates.

When Chevrolet was still selling in Thailand I bought a total (separate times) of 4 Colorado pickups with full cash payments. The price was nicely negotiated on every one of them. I still got the 1st years free insurance and the usual bed liner/floor mats/window tint add ons free. Recently bought a Honda City Hatchback for my step-daughter and there was NO negotiating on price. They even charged an extra 10K for their white color version. Other friends have made recent purchases of other vehicle brands without any success negotiating the price.

Yes, let's promote family tourism. Perhaps the presence of casinos in Las Vegas is why it is also known as the 'Sin City'.

Not sure you have them but if so, it is like herpes, you got the gift that keeps on giving. A friend (actually) of mine never knew he had genital warts. He was here back in the Vietnam days and contracted genital warts, but the disease laid dormant for over 25 years until his wife contracted them from him. There was never a doubt about her fidelity and they both went to see a doctor who explained the unfortunate news to them.

I was once scratched by a large playful St Bernard here in Thailand. Your hospital did not err on the side of caution. Rabies in animals is quite common here. As explained to me, any scratch or bite from any animal demands that the rabies series be administered. The option to not take them is up to you but this is one issue where you are rolling the dice if you don't take the shots. As for some comments about overcharging hospitals, think about what these treatments would cost in your home country. I am 84 and can only rave about the care I have had in 3 hospitals and in a BDMS Wellness facility in Bangkok.

Should have faked accepting the bribe and had his friend bring the 1 million. Could have put the cuffs on both of them.

For a little respite from the constant noise, heavy traffic in Pattaya, try Jomtien Beach area. Touristy but without the constant noise/traffic issues as Pattaya. For an even more casual time go to Bang Saray, a little further down the coast but far less traffic/noise. If you want relaxing definitely avoid Bangkok, Pattaya and Phuket. In the north, Mae Hong Son, Phai (Pai maybe), add a few touristy sightseeing places and you have Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai. As said earlier, Thailand is not as cheap as it once was especially if your food choices are primarily western style. Thai foods are less expensive and tasty although some may be a little spicy for your taste. Koh Chang was mentioned, a pretty popular place with the Russians at this time. Koh Larn off of Pattaya area busy, nice beaches. Kao Lak might also be a good choice. And, to give a little leeway to get more familiar with Thailand and what it has to offer (there's a lot), 30 days and possibly a 30 day extension could make a nice trip funds permitting. If you go to Jomtien, check out the restaurant on beach road next to the 7/11 at the corner of Soi 9 on beach road. Everyone goes there as a customer and leaves as a friend.

Nothing personal with you but I and many others I associate with hate those that walk around sticking the phones or camera in people's faces. You may not believe it but many if not most find this very rude and offensive. Plus, you may be violating the law depending on what you do with your pictures and videos such as posting them on what I call the anti-social sites without the permission of those in your images.

What is best said is 'be cautious'. Bar girls, and there are many good ones but others care more about your wallet and generosity than you as a person/love interest. Bangkok, Pattaya and Phuket may be some of the worst places to find the next love of your life. Most of the men they meet in those places know most foreigners have come there for a 2- or 3- week holiday and they know how to get what they want and need most from the men they meet. It seems to be a 'get what you can while you can' attitude. Try some less touristy places such as Ban Chang in Rayong. Possibly more choices in the Jomtien Beach area although their attitudes may be similar to those in Pattaya. Don't be concerned about the age difference even with the girls not working in the bars. Try chatting with the girls working in the 7/11's, TESCO, Big C, banks and even the hospital if you have a need to go there. That said, I am 84 and the lady I have been with about 2 years is 40 and beautiful. She has a university degree, previously married to a Norwegian man who travelled internationally for work, she had the opportunity to go with him on many trips to many countries including the USA and the Uk and several others. She also has good English and we can even discuss the stock market in the USA. Because of the very different cultures, one thing to look for in a lady is whether the two of you are able to sit down and have an intelligent and interesting conversation about things that interest both of you. Be careful and good luck!

Contrary to many of the comments above I have enjoyed the company of some Russian people. Granted my encounter with them was before the current war broke out. And we were living together with others on a boat for six days of SCUBA diving. We were in Indonesian waters at the time. There were 5 Russians aboard, one was an interpreter. They were all businessmen in their 40's and early 50's with some English, but the interpreter was there when needed. After a day of diving, it is common to sit at the bow of the boat conversing about the day's activities and having something to drink. Much of my communications with them were about the 'old' vs the 'new' Russia. There were many interesting and enlightening discussions every night we were together. And I was never able to get my glass more than half empty without being offered a refill. Obviously, these Russians were of the more affluent and well-educated class, probably somewhat different from the groups now arriving at places such as Pattaya and the Jomtien Beach area. Even there though I have the occasional opportunity for short and pleasant conversations with some Russians usually when we are in a restaurant at adjacent tables where it is easy to start a conversation while you await your order or in a few relaxing minutes after eating. It does not seem hard to get a conversation going. Try just saying hello, and how are you enjoying Thailand?

One thing that I/we have become aware or recently is that your heirs may be asked for the original passport and original bank passbook when the account was opened. Very important to maintain these where they can be easily found when/if needed. A friend of mine here died in hospital several months ago. The weird thing his wife had to provide was the death certificates for her now deceased husbands parents. This went on for so long she eventually had to make a trip to the USA to get help on this. Probably close to a year before she was able to get any funds released that were not in her name. He also had no Thai Will.

Thai banks are not allowed to list a beneficiary. I just went through this exercise with 2 new bank accounts, I already have an account at BBL. A beneficiary can only be designated on insurance policies here in Thailand.