StevieAus

35 minutes ago, Tracyb said:

Has anyone ever seen a speeding vehicle under pursuit by a police vehicle?  Does a speed limit actually make any difference in any practical way?

No but over the last few months I have seen a lot of use use of police using speed cameras around the Chiang Mai region.

5 hours ago, Srikcir said:

I get all my annual vaccinations/boosters from Bangkok Red Cross which charges all visitors about 40% less than private hospitals.

I don't expect Red Cross to provide covid vaccine nor has the government mentioned it as a vac center for covid-19. But it should be.

Thanks for the information I live in the North so not worth traveling to Bangkok nice place as it is.

As a matter of interest will check out Chiang Mai for the Red Cross.

5 hours ago, brianthainess said:

Because Thais living in my country get it for free. And no doubt some have had it already.

They probably get it in my country  as well as long as they are citizens or have permanent residency.

However we  are not in my country or your country so doesn’t apply.

However there is an easy solution we could both return to our respective countries and get it for free.

5 hours ago, mommysboy said:

This is a pandemic: vaccines are free in most other countries.  

You've lived in countries with arcane health systems, so paying through the teeth seems normal. 

Good point about not expecting anything for free as an expat in Thailand- no reciprocity.  But hardly a desirable state of affairs.

Not sure how you can describe the Australian health system as “arcane” as it’s clearly understood.

As far as paying through the teeth Health Care in Australia is free as long as you use the  government system and of a very high standard.

If you elect to use the private system even with the top insurance cover you can be substantially out of pocket.

As far as reciprocity is concerned whilst desirable from my experience it’s limited.

The only place I have found it exists for me and my family is in the UK where it seems because we all hold  Australia citizenship and passports we are entitled to “ free” emergency treatment as defined.

2 hours ago, stament said:

I was just wondering the same thing myself after seeing the HUGE number of vaccines that Thailand have acquired for June and September per a thaitiger article.

My guess is that as a farang I will be very lucky if I get vaccinated in 2021. 

Will farangs even eligible for free government vaccination or will this be another cash ???? for Thai agencies I wonder....? 

 

Why would you expect it for free?

I have always paid for any medical / hospital treatment including vaccines since I have lived in Thailand.

Depending on the status of your health, there is probably as much chance of dying of some other illness/ disease against which you can be vaccinated as there is of Covid.

When you decide to live in Thailand you have to accept there is no Welfare State for farangs.

I don’t know if this assists you but about a week ago I applied for an appointment at VFS in Chiang Mai for the renewal of our daughters UK passport.

I gave three dates with the preferred date of 21March and an am appointment.

I got the time and date requested and as there is only one email address presume it’s a central booking system I got a response the same day.

13 hours ago, BritManToo said:

That works out at 70,000bht/month.

I'm living a much higher lifestyle than back in the UK, as a family of four, on 40,000bht/month.

If I was living alone that would reduce to between 20,000-25,000bht/month.

 

I guess they were basing their figures on people living in Bangkok.

Surprised they list Cambodia and the Philippines as more expensive.

I thought the article said the Philippines was cheaper and Cambodia on a par with Thailand.

I found both of those surprising certainly Cambodia.

We have a block of nine apartments, my wife bills the tenants monthly for the water and electricity which they pay with the rent.

Have never had a problem.

On 2/26/2021 at 7:57 AM, CharlieH said:

I am guessing they are going back for the baby to be born " British", Both with good jobs here I dont understand it otherwise either but the topic is not about " go or stay."

If the poster is a British citizen he will be able to get a passport for the child.

Its not a difficult process and the passport states the child is a British citizen.

He doesn’t need to move there neither does the child.

22 hours ago, Crossy said:

Didn't they "mull" this idea last week too?

 

They were “mulling”it last Friday.

do they ever move on to making a decision?

A rhetorical question really.

8 hours ago, Tanoshi said:

They should because your registered as a citizen of Thailand.

 

When you change from the 2 year temporary licence you can get up to 6 years on that licence as the renewal is dated to your date of birth beyond 5years.. Thereafter future licences should be dated for 5 years.

1) I know they should but as with the Immigration Department different offices different rules.

I gave up arguing years ago  nothing to be gained

2) I have been given six years for the last two renewals.

On 2/22/2021 at 12:37 AM, upu2 said:

Thailand is a BUddhist country and like all countries marriages are conducted in the faith of the country. It would be nice if you could pick and chose I agree but unfortunately soverign states are not really into that option

I understand that in some countries even although you marry in a religious ceremony you then have to register or go through some process at a government facility.

I seem to recall although I am sure someone will correct me if wrong, that in the UK many years ago only a Church of England Minister could “ legally” marry a couple and if married in another faith you had then to go through a process referred to above.

20 hours ago, Tanoshi said:

I've just renewed my licences using my Yellow Tabien Baan - free.

I have one of those and a pink ID card, the DLT Head Office in Chiang Mai will accept them for licence renewal but the local office will not.

Its not worth a 300km round trip to Chiang Mai and the local office renew the licence for six years.

18 hours ago, wasabi said:

I will gladly pay for a quality vaccine but I will accept being forced to have an inferior vaccine just as soon as Mexico pays for The Wall.

I wouldn’t worry too much about quality, the private hospital we use, which is Internationally accredited and where we, including our young daughter have received our vaccines over the years have advised that  they will be supplying the Covid vaccine when available.

Everything they use and provide including drugs is top quality and and I cannot see that changing with this vaccine.

I have never received anything free since living here, but not having a welfare state mentality that is not an issue.

On 2/19/2021 at 4:42 PM, richard_smith237 said:

 

You’ll be tasked with one or two of the following: 

- Weaving down the road with a cigarette and phone in one hand.

- Pottering down a hard shoulder with a baby in your arm

- Swerving round the potholes with no lights in pitch-black (being drunk optional)

- Pulling out from a side street without looking then cutting across the other 2 lanes

- Avoiding vats of boiling hot oil, soi dogs, lamp-posts, dangling wires while riding down an uneven pavement (sidewalk)

 

 

----

 

Really, a very rudimentary practical test (lots of google info out there). 

A multiple choice theory test (best to have a go through the online versions first as the questions can be a bit wacky, i.e. asking which of these is legal on the streets - the correct answer is a tank !)

Watching a video, reaction test, colourblind check, proximity test.... 

 

 

 

 

 

There are a couple of tasks you omitted,

riding along footpaths,

riding towards oncoming traffic on the wrong side of the road.

4 hours ago, ezzra said:

A young and pretty lass by your side at night will make you forget all sorts of cramps mate...

Although it may cause a different form of cramps elsewhere in the body.

7 hours ago, upu2 said:

I would say yes you do. The local Ampur would be the place to start as they register marriages.

One thing which I am not sure if it still applies but in the past Thailand did not recognise a marriage unless it was conducted as a Buddhist wedding. Could well have changed as I say but worth checking on.

I think you have it the wrong way around a Buddhist ceremony is not accepted as a legal marriage and cannot be registered.

My Thai wife and I married in Australia many years ago  In a non Buddhist wedding and had no problem registering it here.

3 hours ago, Katipo said:

The Aussie government are beholden to Murdoch and Co. Facebook are holding Australian charities and emergency services ransom by including them in their purge. One is as bad as the other.

How are the Australian government beholden to Murdoch and Co ?

It has far more reach than that organization, plus other countries have said they are considering similar legislation.

You obviously think Facebook should get news content for free, I pay for my online Australian Newspaper.

20 hours ago, from the home of CC said:

to those who want a different vaccine than offered may have to go home, perhaps they'll tie it into visa renewals eventually..

If you read the article it states that the private sector

( presumably private hospitals etc) can procure their own supplies.

That is where you can make your choice.

I cannot see the private hospital I use which is internationally accredited and uses top quality drugs buying the Chinese or Russian version

20 hours ago, Crossy said:

 

ditto for the Chula version.

 

Hopefully there will be a paid option to get Pfizer, Oxford etc. (not Sputnik).

Totally agree have always paid for my vaccines and for my wife and daughter.

At least you know they

( hopefully) have been properly transported and stored

3 hours ago, mfd101 said:

My experience in 2016 in Surin suggests that, when purchasing land (as opposed to inheriting), there can be quite a difference between the price actually paid & the price declared to the Land Office ...

It seems quite a common practice where I in the North for people to only declare the Land Office valuation rather than the purchase price in order to reduce the transfer fee cost.

We have bought several blocks over the years but insisted on recording the purchase price, particularly as they have been owned for more than five years, therefore lowering the fee and the fact that we and the seller have split the cost of the transfer fee.

19 hours ago, Jumbo1968 said:

I had a covid test in the U.K. and it was very unpleasant, a swab lonber than a cotton bud was inserted in both nostrils, I thought the nurse was trying to stir my brain. She then inserted one down my throat so far it made me wretch. I couldn’t I imagine trying those tests on a young child.

I agree it is not pleasant I have had 2 in the last 6 months pri.or to operations carried out the first by a male nurse was very rough

The second time It was carried out by a female nurse who was very gentle and although it’s not something I enjoyed I have had worse procedures in my life

On 2/14/2021 at 8:40 AM, Bourney0 said:

Steve, how deep would you say that they inserted the swab? Was it just inside the part that protrudes from the face?

Typically a nasopharyngeal swab for PCR is inserted 8-10cm inside the nose in adults--practically to the back of the throat. That's downright unpleasant. At best, it makes your eyes water.

Perhaps they gave you a different type of test. The problem is, there are at least three different methods for doing a COVID PCR test. There's a nasopharyngeal swab, a more "gentle" swab, or a saliva test.

 

The saliva test is the least invasive. You simply spit into a collection cup and that's what's used for the test. It seems like that's the rarest type, unfortunately.

I have had two Covid tests in the last 6 months carried out out a International accredited private hospital prior to having operations carried out

The test was carried out using what I would call a large “cotton bud”

It was inserted inside one nostril and only went to the top of my nose nothing went anywhere near my throat

After reading your original post I spoke to my sister in the UK whose husband requires regular hospital visits and is tested each time she confirmed his test is the same as mine.

I have never heard of people having the test you describe