Tofer

9 hours ago, HHTel said:

The good old days:

 

 

EE bye gum, thas med me reight homesick....

Talking to people in person - I don't do social media.

2 hours ago, lvr181 said:

I feel the same BUT I just can't get one.  

Who wants an 18yr old..., don't know what they're doing, simply wall flowers!

7 hours ago, IamNoone88 said:

If I was the owner I'd like the insurance company to evidence and prove that God actually exists and was directly implicated in the cause of the fire. Lightning on the other hand can explained quite easily by science and does exist. Amazing how insurers still hide behind such nonsense to potentially avoid a coverage.

+1. Great argument.

17 hours ago, Mysterion said:

Thanks for expanding on your original trollish short remark.

 

We can all appreciate why some people would prefer to re-locate to much cheaper and  isolated/quieter countryside locations as they get older. 

 

Surely you could also agree that, for many people, there are many attractive things about phuket as well? Afterall, phuket must be offering some things of value to have become the top beach holiday destination in Asia.

 

Phuket and Koh Lanta are like apples and oranges. Some prefer apples and others prefer oranges, and there are significant tradeoffs between the two locations.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Attractions maybe, but "attractive" is pushing the image a bit too far IMHO. You can hardly see the island for the overdevelopment there, and there's nothing attractive about high rise condos and wall to wall hotels.

Every time I cross the bridge between Lanta Yai and Noi I marvel at the unspoilt views of Lanta Noi, not a single man made impression on the vista whatsoever.

Check out the type of tourists, I wouldn't say it's a "top beach holiday destination", just busy.... 

I would be very interested to know what you perceive as being "things of value" in your opinion? Kindly enlighten us.

On 10/29/2018 at 9:48 PM, Mysterion said:

Lol

 

Broken-hearted/cheated, miserable, broke/cheap charlie, troll alert!

Ooh, touchy touchy.....

None of the above.

Lived there in 1989-1995, when it was a reasonably clean and pleasant fun place. Now it's quite simply the pits!

On 10/27/2018 at 9:34 PM, Mysterion said:

Have you found a much better place to go over the last five years? Please share.

Everywhere outside Phuket!!

On 10/28/2018 at 7:39 AM, ubonjoe said:

The actual rule for a visa exempt entry is 10k baht for an individual or 20k baht for a family.

On 10/28/2018 at 7:39 AM, ubonjoe said:

The actual rule for a visa exempt entry is 10k baht for an individual or 20k baht for a family.

Thank you Ubonjoe

18 minutes ago, seancbk said:

 

I doubt very much that they would ask a family for proof of funds.  The Immigration officers ask for proof of funds as a way to refuse the person entry, based on them thinking the person is here too often or too much, which might mean they suspect the person of working.   

Thank you Sean.

Just done mine in Krabi.

2 x passport photo & visa page

Original + 1 copy of medical certificate 

Original + 1 copy of Immigration letter (free).

860 Baht fee (for 5 year car and motorbike license).

Reaction and colour blindness test.

Job done 30 mins.

Lovely ladies, lots of chit chat and joking, even gave me their tissues to mop my hot brow before photos taken. Altogether pleasant and easy experience.

On 10/25/2018 at 1:48 PM, Dmaxdan said:

This, according to the original article is the offending loo... 

 

Looks like just the seat needs replacing, so its not like the police had nothing to go on....

 

Look a bit closer, the cistern is smashed as well.

On 10/26/2018 at 5:31 PM, seancbk said:

 

I suspect by visa on arrival you mean coming in on a Visa exempt entry.

Yes for all types of entry the immigration officers can ask to see proof of funds.   You should be carrying 20,000 THB or the equivalent in a major currency (mixed is ok)

A bank card, credit cards, bank books etc are not accepted, nor are current bank statements.  Only cash.

There are NO ATMS before Immigration, therefore you need to get the cash *before* you fly.   

 

Apologise for continuing this off topic subject but, does the cash requirement apply to children (teenagers) travelling with parents, or is there a family scenario?

They are coming from UK and will enter on the visa exempt basis.

8 hours ago, CharlieH said:

Turn off the water and electric. They wont stay long after that.

Depends where the property is located. In UK this recourse is illegal.

Don't know where you ever got that notion.

I transferred over a million baht 23 years ago without any problem from BBK.

Historically it was bringing money in that was the problem.

On 10/15/2018 at 9:46 PM, Jip99 said:

 

 

TW exchange rates are always better than BKB.

 

In your case the 500 Baht costs with BKB will equate to around a £1,000 transfer  with TW.

So does that mean TW charge approx. BT500 / £1,000 transferred?

In that case my £20,000 transfers would cost BT10,000 with TW and only 500 baht with BKK.

5 hours ago, JusticeGB said:

Transferwise is based in London and overseas UK residents can open an account with them with little hassle. It is covered by the UK protections. You also have the advantage of extremely good exchange rates when transferring money to Thailand. The transfer costs are much cheaper than with other banks as well.

They're not cheaper than the free transfers I get via First Direct. Their exchange rates are also quite competitive, but I find it is always slightly better to send Stirling and let the Bangkok Bank make the currency exchange at this end, with only a B500 transfer fee. Also if you send Thai baht from FD it is routed through Nat West clearing bank and then BBK London branch and the fees start to stack up, I 

They are now so fast I can look up the exchange rate on BBK site and instruct FD via their automated system and usually achieve a same day transfer with the rate I checked in the morning.

On 10/14/2018 at 5:13 PM, wgdanson said:

Nationwide and First Direct are good with it, in fact F Direct will post the fee gift (Bose wireless headphones) to my Thai address. I just changed my 40 yr old Barclays over to F Direct. They do FREE transfers GBP to Bkk FCA. Sorry we are not helping Salavan. Don't know how you can do it.

You won't be disappointe. I've had an account with them for many years, best UK bank by far.

Standard Chartered Bank, and they have a few branches in Thailand also.

3 hours ago, AbeSurd said:

That's not what I said.

If we're going to argue that we're saving the UK money by not using the NHS, the police, the roads, the street lighting etc etc, then we should expect to hear the counter argument that we're also 'costing' the country by taking our money abroad.

It would probably be best for us to argue that the situation balances itself out.

I refrained from commenting on your earlier post, but sorry, this is utter tosh. 

You get a pension on the years contributions credited, the pension is a contractual right according to the NI, who have provided me with statements clearly telling me what I'm ENTITLED to. So what and where I spend it on is entirely my choice.

8 hours ago, sandyf said:

Yes, i was 49 years and one incomplete year, my birthday being in August. I do not think you can actually achieve 50 years, would need to be one day short.

Before coming to Thailand I had an ex council house and the one next to me was still council. The first neighbour was very good but she moved away and was replaced by 2 unmarried 17 year olds. The had no intention of ever working and in due course they will get the full pension after having lived off the state throughout their lives.

Please, please let's not start down that topic, my blood Is boiling already!

Although retired in Thailand I still have investment property in UK and continue to pay tax on the income. So I'm still funding those wasters...

2 minutes ago, OneMoreFarang said:

I have glasses since forever but I never considered an operation. I don't know how likely it goes wrong but 1% failure chance is 1% too high.

I think what some people do wrong is that they use low quality frames (and maybe lenses). Personally I have titanium wireless frame with this plastic lenses. Not cheap, but they are very light and comfortable...

I also have good frames, and used to go to the same place in BKK every year to get my eyes tested and the lenses upgraded if necessary. Now they've disappeared and I'm just fed up always having to reach for the glasses to read anything. It's more frustrating as my vision is 20/20 apart from reading, and I often forget my glasses and end up using the wife's, which I'm sure is not good.

The fear factor is all that has stopped me to date, but I think I can live with the 1% odds of it going wrong. At least have one eye at a time done to mitigate some of the risk.

Friends in UK have had it done and reckon it's the best thing they ever did to improve their ageing abilities.

Thanks for all your input and recommendations. I think I will be making a trip to Rutnin before too long.