Dipterocarp

No umbrella, sunbeds or food vendors.

No smoking, no beer. Sounds like a beach in California, which at least would be clean.

People enjoy something different on vacation.

Some will stay where they are, or maybe try Vietnam instead.

Any person fit enough to ascend stairs could have moved around that tree.

Hopefully the tree will be happier in its new location.

Submerged up to dashboard is total loss.

You get a check, the insurance company gets the car.

Parts have have salvage value.

I purchased a Condo in that range almost 10 years ago and it works out well for me, doing FIFO

overseas work and using part time, but gave up trying to rent it out. 

This is how it works with Non-resident Farangs and Condos.

Short term rentals (AirBNB) are illegal, the Condo management will mess with you.

Now with TM30 reporting enforced probably worse (don't even want to go there).

The Condo management are however willing to do these illegal short term rentals for you, and rip you off.

You can rent it out long term yourself without an agent working illegally , many do, but there then there is the risk of police entanglements. So by all means buy a Condo, just don't think you are going to rent it out while you are outside Thailand unless you  have a good management Company and your Juristic person allows it

• I could lease out my Condo long term but then I could not use it. The rent you can attract even in a new building for is quite low compared to purchase prices now.
• I could have my  Condo management rent it out short term, but I just cannot stomach these wonderful smiling women renting it out 10 nights and saying it was rented three, pocketing the proceeds for themselves, which is exactly what they did to me. I was thinking get an updated digital lock where I can download the door use history, but it is not worth the wear and tear with short term tourists, and now I have a lot of personal stuff there. 

In a perfect world you did the right thing, I would have done the same, in the past, a bag , a mobile, a wallet (especially). Now I will not touch anything in Thailand , find the manager, a policeman, Airline agent in an Airport. Point to them the valuables on the ground. Then you can't get wrapped up in a "You stole it!" scam. 

By the way I ride bicycles, never seen a country with so much small change dropped on the road, (along with the thumbtacks on Doi Suthep). Sometimes wonder if it is cultural thing?

Normally you show an original KeyFob, along with that number and car make and model they can look

up the Key code. I would think they might not have codes for Australia models.

However as stated above these Keys are easily hacked with basic devices. No way to test it until you bring it back to Australia? Maybe waste of money.

You will have no issues with Immigration in BKK Suwarnabhumi airport when you arrive. Actually on an O-A, as I understand,  you will have no reason to attend Chiang Mai Immigration for a long while unless you need to do a 90 day report. As for me I don't do 90 day reports, but from what I hear they will likely require TM30. At that time you could be fined for not having done it within 24 hours of arrival at your residence in Chiang Mai.

Chiang Mai Immigration started with the TM30 last year. (Check the TM30 thread on the Chiang Mai subform It has been a nice little earner for them). I am based in Chiang Mai A TM 30 is required (there) every time you re-enter the country within 24 hours.  That does not count Immigration closed days.  I just heard from a Japanese friend/ long stay couple there is  get a 7 day grace period. I would not count on that courtesy applied to Farangs. 

So, If I were you I WOULD go to Chiang Mai Immigration and lodge a TM30 report as soon as you arrive in January. Then when/if you do a 90 day report in Chiang Mai they will not be able to fine you 1600 baht. 

Reminds me of a movie by director Eiji Okuda. Involves a shady policeman who kidnaps small dogs keeping them safe at his Grannies house. When he "finds" the dogs he returns them to lonely women who feel indebted to reward him.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0304704/

Check a HiFi shop like Piyanas Audio (BKK) that deals in such items. They may have proper boxes for speakers that they throw away. I kept all the boxes and foam packing for my Boston Acoustics Reflection series speakers for several years in a closet, anticipating overseas shipment. They are now in place, in one of my Condos. Sorry I disposed of the boxes.

The towers are over 1m and weight about 15kg each. They would be hard to pack properly otherwise.

22 hours ago, keeniau96 said:

The problem with med certification is the three infections, of which one (leprosy) is very rare and unfamiliar to USA medics. Cannot just do Thai style mai pen rai so they admit honest lack of knowledge.  

Would the Royal Thai Consul (Los Angeles) accept a medical certificate from 

a hospital in Chiang Mai? I usually attend Chiang Mai Ram when anything comes up,

or the one near the Transport office for driving medical certification.

1 hour ago, pjuk said:

It might only be vapour but it smells BAD.

I prefer the smell of normal cigarette's to the stench some of these vape oils produce.

Tobacco odor still is worse at least you smell it coming. 

With the vapers you turn a corner and suddenly in a cloud of sickly sweet vapor containing who knows what made in China. I don't think the Vape can be  called "safe" yet surely not as dangerous as Tobacco Cigarettes. Some people are weaning themselves off nicotine with low nicotine juices and it is being suggested as a less harmful alternative in some countries. The law banning it is purely protectionist.

I'm a Gold member at Starwood (ALOFT, Le Meridien, Sheraton, etc.)  They offer check in whenever your room is ready, even 8AM, but a gamble as few rooms will be serviced before 10 or 11 AM. Check out can be extended to 4PM.

Nothing worse after an all night flight to be denied check in to late afternoon. I need a nap! As others have posted best thing is to book the night before and let the Hotel know you will be checking in very late! Some places will require prepayment of this option.

I received a Chinese visa there two times. but I have not tried in a couple years. My company now uses a fixer at a Chinese consulate on a Pacific island. Here is how it went "You have to go to Bangkok". Japanese people and others are in the lobby filling out application. Well how is it my friend got a visa here recently ? Application handed out, visa by next day

Next time. "Go to your country and apply(USA)". Well I got one here two years ago has your policy changed? "You have to speak to the Consul/Officer, please wait a minute". The lady was as pleasant as can be, highlighted a few places on the huge application told me ignore rest and sign.  Told me she had been posted to an San Francisco before. Next day visa again available.

The girls at the window appear to be Thai University Students or interns. They must be trained to always say "Cannot". Makes sense but most Consulates provide the services they are regulated to offer or how can they get more funding and resources if they have no work to do shuffling visa applicants off to other offices? Maybe the counter girls are lazy?

2 minutes ago, jackdd said:

He just talked about a condo. In a condo you pay directly to the government so it's the same rate as in a house.

This is true, my meter is from PEA in my name. Water is 30 baht per month. I rented a room two doors down for several months, (high season, low season), to check the noise situation. My neighbors are fine. Mostly Bangkok people who keep a Pied a Terre in Chiang Mai for weekends and holidays. Usually not in residence. The only noise was from nightclubs and CNX airplanes. None of that bothers me anyway but the nightclubs have been shuttered over the years and eventually I had the high quality German design dual pane windows installed.

No motorbikes buzzing, no chickens, no howling dogs, goddamn frogs and screeching Crickets.  Quite quiet actually.

Advice,? Don't

If you want to purchase instead of renting find a Condo. Registered in your name alone.

Live there happily with who you choose, a girlfriend, wife,  Drinking buddy, relative, whoever.

Then for whatever reason it doesn't work out for the person who lives in the Condominium you purchased the person(s) can collect their meager possessions and find another place to live and YOU keep your Condominium.

Some people make this so difficult and insist on the well worn Expat path of failure and financial loss.

They already sell plastic cups and beer. Beer sot sold by the cup simply more profitable.

In my case application I applied on a weekend, clearance was quick and by Friday I was flying into BKK (Suwarnabhumi Airport) for 

VISA affixation, which only took a few minutes.

Was mail correspondence with "Mike" made to "name"@thailandelite.com? There ARE a few Western named persons in the contact center. Before I wired money I confirmed independently the target account was held in the name of Thailand Elite Plc, forget which bank.

The staff signature line also always has their family name abbreviated in emails such as 

Regards

Piyachat T.

Thailand Elite Member Service

12 hours ago, gabruce said:

I'll just note that I had to pay the TM30 fine because I stayed in a hotel overnight in Bangkok before proceeding to ChiangMai - arriving home on a Sunday morning. Monday morning was more than 24 hours from the time I entered the country. Unfair in my view, and I paid the fine because they insisted.There may have been some issue as well as my entry card listed ChiangMai as my destination.

Had you payed the 1600 before? Fines are not due for days immigration is closed.

Same situation once this year stayed first night in BKK, arrived in CM on TG too late to attend Imm. 

I went in the next morning.

There is one lady IO at the TM30 office every day (young, short hair, basically no English)

I sensed she was about to pounce closely examining my passport and arrival card with a frown!

I proffered the printed receipt from ALOFT Bangkok and my boarding pass from TG and I was off the hook.

16 hours ago, Grumpy Old Man said:

I would like to share my nightmare of an experience trying to change my permanent address on my Thai Immigration file and do my 90 Day reporting. . . . .

 

I turned up at Chiangmai Thai Immigration centre "The makeshift collection of desks and offices" to process my change of permanent address from Bangkok to Chiangmai and process my 90 Day report, an easy job you'd think, not so as it seems.

 

Firstly after standing in a queue for nearly an hour I was told the office / deck to firstly change my address was upstairs as I can't change my address and do my 90 day report at the same time or office.

 

I go upstairs to another office / desk and join another queue for approximately another hour before producing the required TM28, UK passport with Visa Etc, yellow book for my new address, Thai driving licence in my new address and copies of all to prove my change of address from Bangkok to Chiangmai; at this point you'd think it was a done deal, well not so. . . . . 

 

Not interested in my UK Passport or Thai driving licence, fair enough.

 

They are looking for the TM 30 receipt from my Bangkok rented apartment address and the TM 30 receipt from my wife from our own family home in Chiangmai; I replied saying, the TM30 reporting and receipt for the rented apartment in Bangkok is the responsibility of the owner not me, contact them.

 

I then asked why does my wife have to report on a TM30 when I have a yellow book for our family home; we also visit her parents once a week in Chiangrai province being 25Km away for approximately 26 / 28 hours does that mean they have to report on a TM30 an "Alien" is staying in the house and my wife have to report on a TM30 when we return home to Chiangmai province 26 / 28 hours later; then came the subject of my Monday to Friday in Bangkok and the apartment owner have to do a TM30 every Monday morning or within 24 Hours because I am now in a different province; I then return to Chiangmai on Friday night and I am being told that my wife has to report a TM30 there is an "Alien" staying at my own family home. . . . . I think you get the issues I am now facing

 

I only wanted to change my permanent address to my family home in Chiangmai for 90 Day reporting purposes and all this crap started. . . . .     

 

Still haven't managed to get my address changed because the issue of outstanding TM30 fines came up and they wouldn't process my change of address until the "FINES" had be paid Etc. even after I reminded them that TM30 reporting and TM30 fines are not my responsibility . . . . TO BE CONTINUED      

Welcome to Chiang Mai! Chiang Mai Immigration started with the the TM30 last year. It has been a nice little earner for them.

I stay in a condo unit that I have owned since 2008. Like many others I had to pay 1600 baht. Now I update at Promenada every time within 24 hours of arrival.

Your situation is more complicated how many different fines are they trying to get you for?

4 hours ago, deptrai said:

I was concerned about this during the booking process.  I later confirmed (in writing) that the Gala Dinner is optional for Starwood Preferred Guests.  

I would attend the Gala anyway. It is an "all hands on  deck" event. Quite impressive setup and all the crew from check-in even the GM will be serving drinks in the ballroom. Usually an exclusive countdown party area on the Lawn with the obligatory booming bass DJ music so you can strut your stuff Lanna style. Once a year it is nice to do something "Hi-So". Last year I was ensconced in a hotel room in Korea on a job watching TV it sucked!

Le Meridien Chiang Mai  on NYE?

You might as well attend the compulsory Gala Dinner as you will be paying for it at 5999 Baht per person (not including alcohol drinks).  Been several times used to be free-flow, now you have to get a drinks package on top of that. A great event though every year the spread seems to be getting smaller and price increasing. The food is outstanding, one year they had a seared Foie Gras station, another fresh oysters from France. 

All international airports are available at a moments notice, Great job by the Pilot and crew.

In a more dire situations aircrafts like this burning have become uncontrollable at low altitude and crashed.

Another reason a new airport for Chiang Mai is long overdue, to be built in a less developed and populated area.

There are many virgins in the North as well. You will never find out for sure until you get to know her better.

The problem is Thai women tell lies for what "I consider no good reason. To save face or to construct a narrative they think is better. It would be nice  girl might admit "Yeah I lezzed out in college, but it was just a thing to do I was never really into it". Most western guys wouldn't care, or if they banged a first love in the village . (But they won't).  I think the OPs gals story about the foreign guy is suspicious why mention at all?  

Reminds me about one story, very nice girl from Chiang Rai, friend of a Thai friend who was interested in getting with me. Totally pure and innocent until her (late) Thai husband. "Oh but there was this Belgian guy who tried to get me but I turned him down". Nothing to do with me I couldn't care less. Turns all true except she was going with him on the side for a few years sporadically before her husband died now they live in Europe with a half Belgian kid. 

European new channel last night.  "A man" shouted Allah Akbar and stabbed women, "it is far too early however  to state what kind of attack this was".