siam-i-am

I've noticed that many of the selors are now asking for 20 baht for the usual 'in town' ride. Not all the selors are doing this, and there is no notice written as there was when the rates went from 10 baht to 15 baht. I can understand the drivers wanting more money, as gas prices are certainly going through the roof these days. There really needs to be some commonality among the drivers though. Personally, I have no objection to a 20 baht fare if it is across the board. Gas is expensive.

I often take a selor down from Kad Suen Kaew around to Thapae Gate. No U-turns required. No special traffic situations, and certainly not a great distance to travel. But many of the middle aged drivers are requesting 20 baht for this trip. I just pass them up. There are plenty of other older drivers who are usually right behind the first one, and not grabbing for the extra 5 baht. I don't mind waiting the 1-2 minutes for the next selor, purely on principle. I do notice that the 20 baht selors tend to be empty, while the 15 baht trucks have passengers, so I guess I'm not alone in my feelings about this. I'd imagine this is making the 20 baht drivers a bit angry.... but people do vote with their wallets. The 15 baht drivers are still making money; more so now that people are waving off the 20 baht trucks.

Gas prices maybe going through the roof but they get twice the mileage.

I brought some bread mix with me from Oz.

When it was all gone, (my Thai rellies loved it!) I went shopping ..

I found some yeast and flour at Big C in Nakhon Sawan.

The resulting bread looked OK, if a little pale in colour, but it had no taste at all

compared to the Aussie mix! Even melted butter would not bring it to life!

I guessed there must have been a large component of rice flour in that mix?

I had to bring a bread knife with me from Oz too.

That type of knife does not seem to exist here - only those Chinese chicken choppers

they seem to use for everything. Hardly suitable for springy fresh loaves.

Index has a knife for every occasion at reasonable prices.

I say I say I say,

My helicopter is full of toadstools!

Well how'd ya know they are toadstools?

Because there's not mushroom inside......

c'mon Lonnie Donegan

I'll bet the pilot was a Fungi to be with.

Trying to make a long story short, my mom just moved to a new apartment and she left her current phone line, internet and TV (UBC) box behind and changed it to the name of the people that moved into her old apartment, so they wouldn't need to apply for a new line and everything. No problem, since she can apply for new services in the new apartment.

I went with her today to apply for a new phone, internet line and TV (UBC) service at the TRUE office. The first thing they said was "passport copy please and work permit". I told them that my mom was over 60 years old, is on a retirement visa and has no work permit. Obviously, if she had a work permit, she would have a job and wouldn't be retired. The lady then says that you cannot apply for a telephone line, internet line AND a TV subscription without a work permit. A long phone call to the main office even confirmed this, the new TRUE/UBC rules are that you need a work permit.

I can even somewhat understand it that people working here illegally would use a telephone line and internet line, but needing a work permit to watch TV is a little but ...umm, insane?

I ended up being able to apply under my wife's name, but I can't imagine what the people that live here and who have an overseas income or are retiring to Thailand, have to go through. If you don't know a Thai person who can apply for these services for you, apparently now you cannot use a telephone, the internet and you can't even watch TV.

What's coming next, need a work permit to buy food in TOPS or FoodLand?

You were unlucky I've got everything in my name without a work permit, alas a lot of Thai staff are as thick as a plank or at least act it, go another day and the staff will bend over backwards to help you. I've been rejected with all the bull sh**t excuses, gone another day talked to another member of staff alls well. The only thing I can put it down to is they are scared of making mistakes, it's easier for them to refuse. One thing puzzles me, why anyone would want to resubscibe to true is beyond me. Hope your mom enjoys her stay in LOS.

There are a lot of immature wack-job foreigners living in the far East. It is better to make friends slowly but surely in order to cut down on future problems.

There's even more on Thai visa.

It seems there is no point debating this issue.

PCA is convinced it is a scam (because it fits his victimised worldview) and while many members are methodically trying to explain that it is, in fact, something very different, he replies with a huff: "You believe what you want, I can't be bothered to explain it."

So, there we are. Thaivisa debate at its best.

The bank offered $500 back, not because they did anything wrong?

So, there we are. Thai visa reasoning at its best.

If their is a part of the forum that specialises in this subject let me know.

I have recently become eligible for the British Pension. I have made the application and it is approved. The problem is the British Pension Service do not pay via SWIFT directly into a Thai bank account.

Will other British pensioners in Thailand let me know how they receive their funds from the British Pension Service into Thailand. , without giving personal details. Thanks

Try and get your pension paid into a UK bank, Nationwide is good (no charge) If you tell the BPS you have left the country they will not pass on any increase in pension. Stay stumm and enjoy any increases in the future.

Hey why have posts been deleted here Mods?Thanks I got my answer but why delete posts?

Have you ever been in a multi story car park and your parking perfectly well when a guy comes up behind you with a whistle? It's annoying to say the least, but remember its all he has. Same thing with mods all they have in the world is a delete button let them enjoy their nano second of power.

no pun intended i take it

Of course not, just didn't want him to get into hot water.

or dropped in the deep end

This thread is running hot and cold

no pun intended i take it

Of course not, just didn't want him to get into hot water.

I knew the couple a little bit & although I'm surprised to hear about this they are a nice couple (despite being involved in that) and she is a she and not a he.

The Khrays mother said they were nice boys too, like I've said before if you don't like the rope don't sell the dope, these are the rules.

Well just left the bath , had it there 4 years and never used it . Always the shower.

The mrs asked me 2 hours ago .. why you not use ? asked myself why? and thought sod it not had a bath in years ( a say again shower all the time ) ill have one, and maybe just me , but it was bloody relaxing to sit and soak for a bit.

thats all

I think the mods should pull the plug on this thread.

I was on carrier pigeon speed yesterday....today it's flying supersonic. Have no idea what I have, as I'm on an apartment building LAN. I assume some kind of ADSL- TT&T, TOT, CAT, True, Loxinfo.....who knows?

I have resigned myself to the fact, the longer I live here, that it just will suck, sometimes. Why get stressed about things we really have little or no control over?

Hopefully the rollout of the 3G, 3.5G and (blessed!) WiMax next year will heal all these festering wounds....

PS I can't really complain- my internet is included with my rent; I pay not a farthing for my connection...

I've tried complaining what's the use. We are in Thailand and as far as business goes one half doesn't have a clue and the other half couldn't care less.

working in a very high end restauraunt my girlfriend makes and additional 10 to 20 k monthly off the back of this service charge. the girls in the restauraunt split the cash tips nightly.

MK has gone up in the world.

Visiting Korat next week can anybody reccomend a hotel clean a/c breakfast 1000-1500 double room?Thanks in advance

Its sign of disrespect to your partner to let yourself go. It shows that you take them for granted and have little consideration for their feelings.

Bringing the topic back to Thailand, the much higher level of competition for wives from existing women may help explain why Thai women don't blimp out after marriage

Am I to take it then, that all the MacThai women I see around Chiang Mai are single?

A very sad story, and one of the few publicized ones of migrant workers getting screwed over every which way imaginable; and I think that all things considered requesting that the Shangrila Hotel intervene probably does a lot more good to the world than it does harm. They can likely pressure a resolution if they feel a risk of adverse publicity.

But are they really responsible?

If I hire a legitimate construction firm to build my house and one of their workers is injured due to lax safety standards or whatever by the construction firm, am I ethically or morally responsible for that injury? Should I feel compelled to step in at personal expense if the company that is legally and morally responsible fails to fulfill their obligations?

I don't know... Of course you'd want to help if you could, but if it meant the difference between sending your kids to a good school, or paying for a life of hospital care, and you didn't really feel responsible...what would you do?

Anyways, it's very sad, and I truly hope that this woman does get what she is entitled to.

Yes they are responsible. They should not have given the contract to the builder if he wasn't properly insured, they cannot pass the buck, and should face the consequences. If anyone has the address of the company please write and tell them, that it won't be a pretty opening unless they see to it that the "builder" does the right thing.

If you feel you need to air condition the area that the pool is enclosed in, be sure it draws air from the house, not the outside, or it will pressurize the pool room and push the damp, chlorine laden air into every corner of the house.

i have a roofed pool, three sides enclosed by a u-shaped home and plan presently to enclose it fully as well as airconditioning the pool area. aircons commonly available in Thailand do not pressurise any area but just recirculate

Thanks Guys, a lot more to it than I thought, maybe a better bet would be to build it away from the house via a covered walk way.

When stocks go up it still is not profit. For that you need to sell. And then what? Buy stock again?

Stock markets tend to drop faster then they go up. So you can sit and watch it grow for a few years and see it disappear in a few days.

It is not for everyone.

You sell a small percentage every year. If you start with enough, you don't need to buy anything else, except you might need to rebalance. For example if you want to have 25 percent in China stocks and the value changes so that you have 50 percent, then you would sell half and reinvest in something else.

The only time in modern history that stocks have dropped like you imply they always do was in 1929.

I beg to differ

Are you thinking of indoor and attached to the house, or a separate enclosure for the pool?

Attached to the house.

the crowd that drag up the same old sh-ite and dress it up in a different way to start a keyboard warrior session.

It just goes round and round, I am sure you know the topics off by heart now.

on that note, how much does everyone spend on a monthly basis?

I saw a tuk tuk today it singled to turn right... then it turned right can you believe it! lets have a poll how many people saw a Thai indicate today. zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

Living in CM and looking forward to having own heated pool outside or inside, you opinions maybe ignored, but are never the less welcome.

I live and own a house (company) in Pattaya and have a property worth about 120 GBP in England that brings me in 475 GBP a month. I feel that soon the property will need a bit of money spent on it as the utilities are aged and will soon need replacing, renevating etc. Should I sell up now and invest the 100 grand + and have a monthly income from the cash. Can anyone advise on a savings plan etc that would be safe with a good return. By the way I am 52 and have lived in Pattaya for 3 years and cant see myself ever living anywhere else I also have a very good pension coming in each month, but I could do with a little cash in hand.

MANY thanks for any advise.

I have several properties rented out in UK and a few quid (started with thousands) in shares. Stick to property ok so you spend a few pounds in repairs, it's tax deductable. If you've told the tax man your here and don't spend more than 90 days per year in UK there is no capital gains tax to be paid after 5 years. If you can find 7% tax free for a minimum of 2 years take it, otherwise you will lose money. Trust me, been there done that.

I have an account with the Nationwide Building Society in the UK. The attraction is that they don't charge for making overseas withdrawals. But I undersatnd that Thailand has an onshore exchange rate and an offshore exchange rate. Is this right? What sort of exchange rate do you get withdrawing from an ATM (from the bank in UK) as opposed to changing cash in Thailand? Thanks.

I've used a Nationwide debit card for about 5 years always top rate and never any charges I've also got a internet account so if current account gets low I top up and use same day excellent.

I'm shocked, shocked! to hear there may be corruption in the remoter parts of Thailand.

Shocked and stunned!