fm2002

I agree with you all. I think it's a good thing that it's not easy to find what I'm looking for. In Pattaya your overwhelmed with agents that will promise you anything. Most of them full of shit.

Drove all over the place today and found a few signs advertising rentals. Also found PI Mann gym. Nice place.

One more thing:

Any golfers out there ? Thinking of playing the Army course tomorrow morning. Anyone fancy a game?

Yeah after reading 20 pages or so of the Chiang Rai forum it's apparent Soap and Kandahar are in the know. I'm in no rush and will just let things come together w/o much worry. I think I have no choice as the rental industry here is not established as in bigger cities. In fact I suspect I will leave here soon w/o anything concrete. However I've met a few good people and hopefully something will materialize down the road.

Didn't accomplish much yesterday, Monday on the rental front. Have a few leads today so got my fingers crossed

Went looking for a gym. Heard there are (3); Dusit, P'Mann and one other. Found the Dusit and had a look, but not much of a gym for the money asked. Couldn't find P'Mann. Will look again today.

Had dinner at Don's last night and was impressed. The Ribs were very good the BBQ sauce even better.

Well I find out yesterday that Sunday is not the day to get things done in Chiang Rai. Rico's was closed and Jed Yod St. was dead.

Serious question: I'm finding as you get out of town into the country/mountains Chanote's are non existent or very hard to come by. Why is this the case? What if anything can be done to get one? If you can't get one what else can be had that will ensure ownership? Seems people are building w/o one which seems very risky

Well made it up here yesterday a day late. Staying at Chiang Rai Homestay which is owned and operated by Toony and Phet a very nice couple and a nice quiet place. A little bit out of town,but we have our own wheels so ok.

We met up with Jeffery of Lana Realty and he showed us 3 places. Not sure exactly the location, but about 5 blocks from Central Plaza. All 3 units were on the same street. The first 2 units were pretty much the same; 2 storey, 4 bedrooms, but really 5 to 6, walled in yard, semi furnished. 1st one 15,000 and 2nd one 12,000-15,000. IMO very reasonable, but we are only two so way too big for us. The 3rd unit at the end of the street was a smaller 1 storey 2 bedroom with small walled in yard. Fully furnished with maid service. This would be available next month for 15,000.

In the afternoon Jeffery explained he had another place, but said most likely it was rented, but in case the guy backed out he would show it to me. It's about 6km out of town. There are actually 3 units; 1 unit the owner lives in and the other 2 he rents. There is a 1 storey 2 bedroom I would rent in a New York minute, but it's occupied with a long term agreement. The unit in question is a small 2 storey A frame. A nice little place, but if the price is what I think it will be 20,000 up it's too much.

Today, Sunday we will hit the town and see what we can find out. Will be at Rico's for lunch and Coconut Bar tonight for drinks. Anyone who would like to have a chat the first rounds on me. We'll be easy to find an American and Thai who have been in the sun too long

Cheers

Think I know the area. It's a side street right off the main st. in Chiang Rai with a few bars and there used to be a Italian Restaurant there too ?

Thanks guys for the leads !

Well before the Devil gets his teeth into me I have to get out of Pattaya. Can't say I hated my time here, but enough is enough.

I've lived in Thailand 3 years and I have travelled just about everywhere except the deep south.

(Tilac refuses to go there). My short list of where I would like to relocate is either Chiang Rai or Hua Hin. Been to Chiang Rai 5 or 6 times. After going through the first 20 pages of the Chiang Rai Forum I've learned a few things;

1) Lanna Realty seems to be the only agency that deals in rentals and purchases

2) the expat community is small and pretty tight

3) things seem to be progressing, but there still is a small town feel

I will be coming up on Friday for 4-5 days and would like to have a look around and find a place to rent. My plan would be to move up and see if it's for me. If so my friend has a big piece of land that I would purchase and build a home.

A few questions

1) are there any other agencies other than Lanna

2) do you have message boards advertising rentals. If so where are the best ones

3) expat hangouts where one could get useful info

Thanks for any help you can provide.

Frank

My gf is in That Phanom (near Mukdahan) and is suppose to take the bus back to Bkk on Thursday. Anyone know if the roads are opened and safe?

Well it looks like I was gullible. We got a hold of a Supreme court judge and was told the biggest fine that can be handed out by anyone other than a judge is 10,000baht. This fine would be for vehicular homicide without a license. Not saying 100% my friend is wrong, but it's looking unlikely.

If a moderator wants to pull this thread please do so.

Sorry everybody ! All the ripping I got was well deserved.

Guys I'm not bullshitting here. Actually because I'm getting ripped here and take my creditability seriously I have made some calls to try and get a second source. My gf called 1137 and they never heard of this. We tried to get through to soi 9, but no one ever answers. I told my friend this and he is making some calls to BKK and seeing what's going on. Will report back.

If it was 1 isolated event ok, but 3 guys in 2 days and 1 of them with a receipt.

Not sure what "fishing" or "trolling" is, but read my posts before you attack me. I can't see the motivation from 2 of my friends trying to call and warn me with a story based on a lie.

Yes 50,000baht. He negotiated it down to 40,000.

have lived here for a long time and know the ins and outs of the boyz in brown and how to deal with them.

Sure they do.

They probably pay 250b for their 25b noodles too as they know the ins and out of farang pricing system.

Laugh at my post as you like, but this is not propaganda ! This actually happen to 3 people in the last 2 days. My friend, who called me family friend and his business partner is a Police Colnel from BKK and the other guy owns one of the popular go go bars. Two guys who don't back down to idle extortions.

I just got a call from a friend here in Pattaya who was pulled over last night and was asked to produce his motorbike driver license. He did not have one. He had to go directly to the police station and was told he had to pay 50,000 baht. Yes 50,000baht. He negotiated it down to 40,000. He went on to tell me this also happened to a mutual friend and another guy. They both had to pay 50,000baht. According to the second guy his gf had seen a report on Thai news that they were going to start enforcing this starting this week. My friend was not sure what they are charging Thais.

FYI - 2 of my friends who were caught have lived here for a long time and both are business owners and know the ins and outs of the boyz in brown and how to deal with them.

Yeah Firefox seems to be ok. Hmmmmm

Still blocked. CAT Pattaya

Just happened to me. I have CAT Pattaya. I'm using Safari.

When navigating to my Home Page on Facebook I get redirected to: http://w3.mict.go.th/ Which if I'm not mistaken is what happens when a web address is being blocked ???

Well he's rather very naive or innocent. Let's see how this one plays out ???

Trying to find something to do and have narrowed it down to a trip Kho Sok National park. Plan is to drive up and find a place to stay in Khao Sok for a night or two (suggestions needed). Than I'm interested in Cheow Larn Lake. As I like to avoid travel groups or agents I was wondering if :

1. you can drive to the Lake on your own

2. once at the lake can you arrange accommodation

Any recommendations for places on the lakes ?

Thanks

To further my thought:

Let's put aside a moment guilt and innocence and take a look at what he has facing him going forward. I bet that the police, judge and his own lawyer are in the process of identifying his assets and there worth. They will than strike a deal of how they can get the most from these assets. If the case is strong against him the process will not last that long and in addition of lost assets he will go to jail. If the case is weak or non existent the case will be dragged out for a long time until such time they feel they have got all they can out of him. The only thing I can see saving him and his name is if the Russian Embassy determines through their own investigation that he is innocent and puts serious preasure on the upper levels of the Thai government.

If I were him guilty or innocent I would be liquidating my assets and never coming back !

The other side of the story could go like this; the Pimp gets busted by the police, the police ask or he volunteers that he knows a rich farang. At this point a story is constructed to implicate said rich fariang. Police extort money out of rich farang. Pimp walks away a free man to continue his illegal trade and at the same time has a new business and partner ( police) to find and locate new rich farangs.

I would bet the above scenario is likely to be the correct one than the allegations. If I'm wrong I hope he gets locked away for a long time ! On the other hand people should know the above story happens all the time in Pattaya and the main job of the police when it comes to Farangs is extorting money not finding justice.

Do you always get a multi-entry TR visa from Vientiane or is it sometimes a single entry?

Always been able to get double entry. Once they asked to prove I had enough money (bank book) which I had, but don't think they care about that anymore.

It has always been next workday pickup in afternoon. Apply before 1200 I believe but there have been days when after 11 none accepted due to too many applicants. Do not believe that is currently an issue most days.

The Consular Section of the Royal Thai Embassy in Vientiane is open from Monday to Friday. Visa application form could be submitted from 8.30-12.00 hours only. Visa applicants will get their passport back in the afternoon of the following working day. Passport collection time is from 13.00-15.00 hours. Please be informed that the Consular Section is NOT located within the premise of the Embassy at Kaysone Phomvihane Avenue. Its address is at No.15 Ban Ponesinuan, Bourichane Road, Vientiane Capital (near Lao-Singapore Business College).

link

Lopburi I know your the expert (you have helped me before), but every time I have gotten my TV in Vientiane 2-3 times I applied in the morning and picked it up in the afternoon. Both at the old place and new. Anyway I'm here in Vientiane now to get another TV so will let you know.

Ok just got back from the Thai Visa office. To reconfirm I have ALWAYS received my passport back the SAME day not the next day. That said it went differently today I was told to come the next day which is Monday to pick it up. IMO this has nothing to do with overload as I was the only Farang there ! That's right the only Farang. No line and only a few what looked like Laos. This has to do about getting you to pay the touts 2000 baht for next day service (which who will do when there is nobody there) and 4000 baht for same day service which of course at least half of this goes to the Thai staff. It doesn't bother me too much as I did it myself for free and will gladly spend a nice weekend in Vientiane.

It has always been next workday pickup in afternoon. Apply before 1200 I believe but there have been days when after 11 none accepted due to too many applicants. Do not believe that is currently an issue most days.

The Consular Section of the Royal Thai Embassy in Vientiane is open from Monday to Friday. Visa application form could be submitted from 8.30-12.00 hours only. Visa applicants will get their passport back in the afternoon of the following working day. Passport collection time is from 13.00-15.00 hours. Please be informed that the Consular Section is NOT located within the premise of the Embassy at Kaysone Phomvihane Avenue. Its address is at No.15 Ban Ponesinuan, Bourichane Road, Vientiane Capital (near Lao-Singapore Business College).

link

Lopburi I know your the expert (you have helped me before), but every time I have gotten my TV in Vientiane 2-3 times I applied in the morning and picked it up in the afternoon. Both at the old place and new. Anyway I'm here in Vientiane now to get another TV so will let you know.