Derek B

20 hours ago, ZeVonderBearz said:

Yeah but it's impossible to live in Thailand on less then 40k a month, so no wonder they can't save. I read this on TV often. Where are the Thais mentioned in this article getting their fix of premium import beer and superior western food from?

In Chiang Mai for sure and other larger towns less than two hours from an airport.

5 hours ago, Will27 said:

I don't think the OAP meets the financial requirements anyway.

 

I'd suggest most of the Aussies would have more than just the pension.

6 hours ago, TSF said:

Looks like all farang living in Thailand on annual extensions will now need to have the 400K & 800K THB in a Thai bank account in order to continue living in Thailand. Now, just wait and see if next year they'll double the required sums. I've been expecting it for a couple years now, but it'll happen because they want you gone.

They need us - we spend money that goes straight into families in local communities - without us alot of poor people are going to get a nasty surprise.

Who took the photo then?

On 3/17/2014 at 11:08 AM, delh said:

They weren't too concerned about pouring the concrete onto the steel mesh and having that next to the sand base - useless there.

I had to insist they keep lifting it with their rubber boot clad toes as they spread the concrete out. (My 20 years in construction useful at last).

They just don't care.

I seen that happen before on a friends construction project ..............apparently they learn all their skills on the job. Steel mesh feeble - delivered rolled up. Columns had re-bar touching the shuttering too.

Best to get a hard headed English speaking female "Clerk of Works" and pay her well by local standards.

On 3/13/2014 at 8:29 AM, chibichibi said:

http://modelathailand.com

Link not working..............???

On 12/21/2016 at 11:01 AM, mikecwm said:

Hi Grumpy.

Cabin with decks and kitchen cost us 500,000 B.

Concrete base was about 80,000, but if we had more time in Thailand we could have got that done much cheaper (flying visit from Canada at the time).

Shower / toilet room cost 100,000. Ditto re costs for that as well.

They have a good selection of cabins on display on the west side of route 21 about 5 km south of Si Thep in Petchabun province.

 

Retired and living in the cabin we supervised a crew during 2016 to build us a 12M by 12 M workshop and a house.

Workshop cost about 400k, house cost just over 2 million.

Nice photos...........Can you provide google map link to location quoted as "route 21 about 5 km south of Si Thep in Petchabun province."?

In some Thai villages the local PA system kicks in at day light as if providing a free wake up call...........<deleted>.

On 10/6/2018 at 1:02 PM, holy cow cm said:

Roosters in CM are a huge problem. 

Agreed.

Many countries provide compensation for criminal injuries .................. typically after the court case has been concluded or if no charges could be filed.

cc FYI

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/notarial-and-documentary-services-guide-for-thailand

So if the other Commonwealth & EU Embassies can do it why so hard for the British Embassy? They just dont see it as their responsibility to verify being too busy rejecting valid visitor visa applications also without verification.

4 hours ago, SkyNets said:

So just get a print out from your Thai bank showing your pension payments. Whats the problem, unless you have been lying.....

Then expect to be liable for paying Thai income tax.

16 hours ago, rkidlad said:

Looks like there’ll be a crackdown on people riding their motorcycles on the pavement...............for about a week.

Maybe unless someone ploughs into a Chinese tourist group peacefully looking the wrong way whilst blocking the payment.

16 hours ago, tso310 said:

Lets be realistic. The pavement is probably a smoother ride than the road and faster.

Safer too.

2 minutes ago, Donaldo said:

the more I read, the happier I am am with my decision not to have retired in Thailand.

2 minutes ago, Donaldo said:

Absolutely right, and the more I read, the happier I am am with my decision not to have retired in Thailand. I think a lot of foreigners would also choose a different country to go to if they had to choose again. But once they have "invested" whatever they have in properties that don't belong to them they have little choice as trying to make the best of it. And what I agree with whole heartedly is the fact that Thai's should be treated exactly the same way when abroad, whatever their status.

2 minutes ago, Donaldo said:

the happier I am am with my decision not to have retired in Thailand.

If you do not mind me asking where did you decide to retire to?

6 hours ago, webfact said:

The immigration bureau is yet to speed up the establishment of the foreigners' biometric identification database, the immigration screening system, and linking the visa information system electronically at all immigration units to enable immigration officials to access a centralized information which includes the information about visas from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, information about a residency report by the Ministry of Interior, and information about the accommodation of tourists by the Ministry of Tourism and Sports. 

So what are they looking at on their screens at the airport if not a fully integrated data base?

21 hours ago, bluesofa said:

They deliberately miss out the details about how you need to visit many banks (often the same bank but different branch) in order to maybe get lucky and be 'allowed' to open a bank account. Each branch makes up its own rules - we all know that from experience.

Totally agree.

21 hours ago, colinneil said:

British embassy are a total waste of space.

 

I tend to agree from past experiences. GOV.UK and Home Office in particular are too bogged down in bureaucracy of their own making. Most embassies do have a mission statement but they remain self serving departments at heart.

I got robbed in Egypt in 1981 ran out of cash but still had my passport - UK Embassy just said to contact a family member to wire out funds - in 1981 that was not so readily achievable.

Last year I tried to get local Thai gf a visitor visa (ha ha ha) and did not use an agency to write a long winded fake account of our relationship. Upon receipt of application we received an outright rejection stating what I had offered as support etc etc was highly unprobable and that our cohabitation as per my amended condo agreement looked falsified which it did but was not. The point being any uncertainty on this and several other issues was not followed up with a single email or phone call there was simply not the will to validate the detail in the application. I think there are guidelines issued to BKK Embassy examining officers which have not been made public - a hidden agenda so to speak.

A bit off point - As with most things relating to membership of the EU after all these years there remains no common approach to Embassy/Consulate assistance. 

People also have a negative effect on the coral so there needs to be a total ban on tourist visitors entering the water - not just the boats mooring in a different location.

How was the call to prayer conducted before loudspeakers were invented?

18 hours ago, Crash999 said:

And no I wouldn’t like my daughter to go there alone. Or to any developing country alone. Nothing to do with Koh Tao. 

I agree..........heard a few bad stories not all Thai related though.

On 10/5/2018 at 7:54 AM, The Deerhunter said:

All these guys that have asked for advice on this forum over the years about buying a house here with a nominee and been told by so many that it was not really legal no matter who tells them, and not to do it.  Big Joke has not said he is going after corrupt illegal home ownership, YET!!!   But imagine being deported and in worst case scenario banned, after spending X million baht to buy a house that some legal local person now owns and possesses the important 51% of.  Not a good situation to be in.  Possibly always waiting for a knock on the door.

How is home ownership an immigration issue?

On 10/4/2018 at 4:50 PM, MaxLee said:

 

What a GREAT COVER-UP Operation  , I guess all securities can read this in (Non)-Thai language .....

Good point - should be in Thai too

Bar owners in Chiang Mai are reporting revenues way down on last year at this time. So not just Chinese tourist numbers are down I would say as the Chinese are also said not to be the main source of bar income.

Is GRAB illegal in Thailand?

I thought UBER had to leave which left Grab approved.