Rtwo

Excellent news but I shouldn't break out the champagne too soon if I were you. You may have got a judgement in your favour but you haven't got what you want , yet. I should like other polsters be particularly careful about possible retaliation if I were you. 60 millon Baht is a lot of money and it might pay you to move to a more secure and law abbiding location. Contact Control Risks or somebody like that and go through the options with them. They might be expensive but your worth nothing if you're dead.

sell your house get a new mortgage it sounds daft but would you not e better sourcing here. or pay 115% duty

as far as i can ascertain maybe more??

Why would anybody in their right mind want to do it? The bodies corrode like batteries, spares are almost impossible to find and they offer virtually nothing that a Toyota 4WD pickup doesn't. A rubbish car in a rubbish country?

Corrosion?????? My LandRover is far beyond 40... and it's superb fun to drive. Rubbish???? Maintenece remains a permanent hobby which keeps you a little bit busy, away from all day in a bar. I agree that it is not a good idea to import one, too expensive, but LandRover is for sure a big fun.

Google, Land Rover Corrosion. It's inevitable with one part of the panel made from ali and the other from steel.

How many tins of Isopon have you used to fill the bottom of your doors? I had my Land Rover back at Solihull 5 times and they never got it right. Completely useless bit of junk.

sell your house get a new mortgage it sounds daft but would you not e better sourcing here. or pay 115% duty

as far as i can ascertain maybe more??

Why would anybody in their right mind want to do it? The bodies corrode like batteries, spares are almost impossible to find and they offer virtually nothing that a Toyota 4WD pickup doesn't. A rubbish car in a rubbish country?

This whole thing is now completely out of control with the rule of Law and Order being completely absent. The next thing that I expect to hear is that the patients have been ordered to evacuate the hospital and the residents of the city forced to leave. There is little now between what is happening in Bangkok right now and Pnom Penh in 1975. Everybody and I mean everybody should hang their heads in shame. Get rid of the Prime Minister, get rid of the heads of the Armed Forces and Police and start again, none of them are worth anything. I know of no civilised country that would put up with this nonsense.Thailand and Thai people, what oh what has happened to you? Do you not realise that even in times of war hospitals are completely 'out of bounds'?

What I would dearly love to know is where are these people getting the money from? I myself know that some are collecting as much as 700 baht a day. There is some sort of 'power' behind all of this(a third force) and I don't believe that it is just coming from Thaksin? Is it the Chinese or somebody else but who else stands to gain from the mayhem that is currently running through this country?

err, if I may add, I think Toyota have updated their ETC for Hiluxes, and the bigger donuts have added extra (much needed) grip/ traction. I felt the difference moving from a 15" Vigo to a 16" and to a 17". The only downside is with the bigger/ heavier wheels, power loss can be felt.

Yes forced on them by European regulators. That said I've got a 2 door 4WD Vigo and quite honestly it's a deathtrap in 2 WD mode particularly when the road is the slightest bit greasy. I can see no reason why anybody should buy a Prerunner other than to see over things and unless you load the back up I should think that it'll get stuck on the tiniest bit of mud. I can make the tail break away in a straight line just by gunning it away from the traffic lights. Roadholding, what roadholding??? I'm not surprised that Lexus have stopped worldwide sales of 4WD vehicles, Toyotas will be next I shouldn't wonder!

Your motor, may sound daft but your tyre pressures OK, not to high.

takes more driving skills to keep on the road a pickup build on frame with leafsprings, than a Vios. some of us manage, some of us prefere to switch off VSC/ESP to keep the speed up

most drivers are better off with a Vios

The tyre pressures are fine, whether the tyres (Bridgestone)are is another matter, As soon as they come up replacement I shall try Michelins I think. As far as the leaf springs are concerned I sucessfully rallied a leaf sprung Lotus Cortina so I'm quite capable of driving a leaf sprung vehicle on the limit. I agree completely with your comment about the Vios being a more suitable vehicle for the average driver, there is really no comparison between the roadholding of the two, with the Vios winning hands down but you can't carry large loads in a Vios can you? In my opinion the Vigo is inherently unstable and Toyota should and could (if they wanted) do something to improve it. I'm not disputing the fact that it's fast but the roadholding and the brakes should be better. I feel safer in my Mercedes Sprinter Van than the Vigo unless I use 4WD

err, if I may add, I think Toyota have updated their ETC for Hiluxes, and the bigger donuts have added extra (much needed) grip/ traction. I felt the difference moving from a 15" Vigo to a 16" and to a 17". The only downside is with the bigger/ heavier wheels, power loss can be felt.

Yes forced on them by European regulators. That said I've got a 2 door 4WD Vigo and quite honestly it's a deathtrap in 2 WD mode particularly when the road is the slightest bit greasy. I can see no reason why anybody should buy a Prerunner other than to see over things and unless you load the back up I should think that it'll get stuck on the tiniest bit of mud. I can make the tail break away in a straight line just by gunning it away from the traffic lights. Roadholding, what roadholding??? I'm not surprised that Lexus have stopped worldwide sales of 4WD vehicles, Toyotas will be next I shouldn't wonder!

Well you could say that the OSS started it all, maybe it needs the CIA to stop it but their track record of peaceful intervention (American I mean, not just the CIA) isn't good. Probably best to let the Thais sort it out themselves, but it's not looking good is it? Little did I think that when I first arrived here 33 years ago that it would be the most unstable country in the region.

Actually, it says all EXclusive. What a silly way to advertise fares.

Wel this is Thailand. What do you expect commonsense????

Before you go fitting it with larger diameter wheels be aware that Toyota Vigos in Europe are all fitted with 15" wheels for stability reasons following this test.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aZF8N9NItHI

Four door versions used to be fitted with 17" as in Thailand but they were chaged for stability reasons.

Any European country would not allow protesters to hold the country's capital hostage and would have used water jets and CS gas already to disperse the crowd and put an end to this so called piece-full demonstration which is really nothing but a disguised coup attempt by one person using the IQ challenged (of which there are apparently a lot) to obtain his goal of becoming "president for life". He had already turned the country into his own cash machine but apparently the billions of $ were not enough.

It's time the government moves against the protesters with full force. It is obvious that half measures will not work. This is ( I think) the first revolution attempt in history on behalf of a capitalist convicted criminal. Anyone with an IQ above 60, when looking at the facts must realize that the coup was required to stop Mr. T in his tracks of robbing the country further and of placing his own supporters into all key positions of government and army to make sure he will stay in power. Even old Ferdinand Marcos only got away with this for some time....

Sorry I thought political statments were "off limits"? Moderators where are you?

Load an old e-ticket into Microsoft word.

Change the return date.

Print.

Job done.

Oh we see why your here can't we? Just like home eh?

Apart from being a tourist spot, the country was reported as a haven for criminals and money laundering.

Well fancy that!

A bit like Thailand then eh? He'll seem quite at home then won't he?

And Mr T's Brother-in law didn't last long either, did he? It would be interesting to know what your definition of democracy is or don't you believe in it?

The point I was trying to make is when Mr. T's brother-in-law was PM the reds has no cause to demonstrate simply because Mr. T was in power. By the way it is now a mute point since he was convicted but while he was in power he raped all Thai people of billions. Surely you know this also. Surely you are not naive enough to think these demonstrations are about democracy. If so you need to read more.

My definition of democracy is as follows. Government of the people, for the people and by the people. A form of government in which the supreme power is vested in the people and exercised directly by them or by their elected agents under a free electoral system

I'm sorry I fail to see any evidence at all that what you term "supreme power is vested in the people and exercised directly by them or by their elected agents" here in Thailand. The ones with the "supreme power" are primarily members of the Armed Forces and the politicians occupying positions in the Government have been installed there by them for their bidding; they have certainly not been elected under a “free electoral system" and if you believe they have then you are dangerously naive. Military coups are hardly democratic, nor are they remotely legal. You may not like the incumbent but the way to get them out is a free and fair election. The last notable person who refused to go was tipped out by the military so what is this Government scared of? Couldn't be democracy "in action" could it?

Nat Jantakat, a 38-year-old lychee farmer from the north, for one vowed to keep up the fight, making light of the 37 degrees Celsius (99 Fahrenheit) temperature.

"I've been here since the first day and I'll be here until we achieve democracy."

Spoken like a true patriot. Democracy is ending the present government, sending Thailand in a downward spiral and bringing back the man on the run to restore his ill gotten gain. What a buffalo.

Sorry I didn't realise that the electorate had actually voted to put the current custodians of power in office, rather I thought that they'd been imposed by those on heigh.... Some democracy that is, bit like that shower running the show in Burma really!

Interesting reply. I suppose you forgot that Mr. T brother-in-law was put into office by the exact same process. Didn't see any protest from the reds then.

And Mr T's Brother-in law didn't last long either, did he? It would be interesting to know what your definition of democracy is or don't you believe in it?

Nat Jantakat, a 38-year-old lychee farmer from the north, for one vowed to keep up the fight, making light of the 37 degrees Celsius (99 Fahrenheit) temperature.

"I've been here since the first day and I'll be here until we achieve democracy."

Spoken like a true patriot. Democracy is ending the present government, sending Thailand in a downward spiral and bringing back the man on the run to restore his ill gotten gain. What a buffalo.

Sorry I didn't realise that the electorate had actually voted to put the current custodians of power in office, rather I thought that they'd been imposed by those on high.... Some democracy that is, bit like that shower running the show in Burma really!

Donate it to a temple.

So I just wonder, are we going to learn who actually received the bribes? Presumably they'll eventually have to make it public, my guess is that absolutely nothing will happen here to those whose found with their snouts in the trough.

All you can do is to go as high up the chain as possible and complain that DHL's reputation has been sullied and threatened, that if you don't get some sort of recompense it will be further sullied and that means going to Deutsche Post MD in Germany and writing to international newspapers and posting on U-tube. Whether or not it achieves anything I doubt very much. It seems to me that you instructed not DHL but one of their appointed agency's and the absence of a 'proper' DHL receipt with conditions of carriage attached, etc. etc. is proof of this. It also seems to me that you probably knew that there was something 'unofficial' about the whole business. The price alone 14.000 Baht to Bangkok should have told you that, if as you say you've used DHL before. They aren't cheap! It seems to me that on balance like many of us here in Thailand you took a chance and it might have come off but like many, this time it didn't and now you’re expecting Western law and order to support you which I'm afraid it probably won't do in this particular case. If it doesn't put it down to experience as I have had to do, with hundreds of thousands of Bahts worth of wooden rubbish that I imported to the UK but that I've ended up burning because it wasn't what was promised. Thailand might be the 'Land of Smiles' but at least 50% of them can't be trusted. Learn it and remember.... so you're ready; for the next time! This place might seem cheap but on balance I reckon the UK is only just a little bit ahead!

One of her "friends" has told her that our marriage is not recognised in the UK and

that she will get nothing when I die.

I have reassured her, and even shown her the relevant part of the UK Embassy

website that covers this. But a Thai "friend's" word carries more weight than

the UK Embassy website.

"Stupidity can only take you so far in life."

The problem is your wife. She is the one that needs fixing. The solution is for you to educate her on matter of legal laws as it pertains to marriage.

I am so sorry to put it this way but it has been from personal experiences when dealing with people who don't want to know any better. I often challenge people to provide proof when dealing with matter similar to this situation. You have provided her proof that legal Thai marriage is recognized in the UK. Now it is her turn to get proof from her friend that contradicts your proof. You might want to let her know also that it is okey to be educated once in a while. (I am still being educated every day.)

Yes I agree. My wife and I married whilst she was studying as a student in England and the only obvious advantage is that in the event of any mrarital breakdown she stands to do far better by being able to more easily divorce in the UK where a court will probanly award her a far greater proportion of our joint net worth than in Thailand where divorce ettlements are heavily weighted in favour of the male. If after 10 years of marriage she's still preferring to listen to one of her 'village' friends than you, even though you can substantiate what you say with evidence from the Embassy I wouldn't be wanting to marry her too quickly anywhere, Thailand or the UK! I'd be thinking about a prenupt if I were you.

I bought a 42" Samsung 6 series from Siam TV in Chiangmai last year after comparing all the models that I could and haven't regretted it, paid 41,000 Baht but they're probably cheaper now, although some places were trying to sell them for up to 10,000 Baht more. That said I bought a 32" Samsung 6 series LCD when I got back to UK for £600 complete with Freeview etc etc and I have to say that the difference in picture quality between the LCD and non LCD is amazing. I've no idea how much LCD TV's are here in Thailand nor if you can buy a 42" model but they're much better in my opinion and well worth the 15% extra that they were in the UK. Incidentally the models that are available in the UK seem slightly more advanced and are definitely better value but you can't do anything about that. Both have been reliable and I've had no complaints. The one I have here is made in China; the one in the UK was made in Slovakia.

Please do not forget about Walen, give us a chance too. Still offering free lessons. Branches in Bangkok, Pattaya and Chiangmai, easy to move between cities.

If you try you might not want to look any further and if you do ask other school for free lessons too to compare.

Walen School - your language school

www.thaiwalen.com

Maybe it's just fudd- duddy, old me but whenever I see an advertisement for Walen I get confused as to what it is you're really trying to sell. Is it a language school or is a dating agency? Your prices really aren't competitive and your completely unnecessary offer of 'unlimited stay in Thailand' a mere advertising puff. Assesing a school after a couple of free lesons is a complete waste of tim IMHO. Having been to AUA in Bangkok, Chiangmai and tried quit a few others I think that the real thing that decides if the course is any good is the determination of the student. If you want to learn then you will and learning Thai isn't easy particularly for westerners so don't blame the teachers too quickly but look closer to home.

Gee I wonder where that extra 5 foot of water came from on the Mekong?

Funny that. Chinese commerce is affected and the river mysteriously rises 1.5m. It must really be pissing down in China, or maybe they've got the peoples army out on the glaciers with blow torches? After all, it can't have come from any of the dams, they have no effect on the river level.

You get the most astute observation of the day award. I would love to see how the Chinese would explain the increase in water levels, as you say, they made an official statement the other day saying that their dams made no difference. I bet they have had them open all night under cover of darkness I imagine that once all the chinese barges have all been recovered to home territory, the water level will mysteriously drop again.

Just remember where the rocks are so we can walk the river.

My wife who comes from Chiangsaen regularly talks to the Chinese boat captains and for the past three years when they've had problems getting back upstream all they do is gt on their satellite phones and phone home asking the powers that be to let some more water out so don't tell me they don't know what's going on or why. Plain fact of the matter is they couldn't give a shit as long as they're OK. My guess is that they'll speed up construction of the road that they're building across Laos, complete the bridge to Chiang Kong and then cut the water supply almost completely, until they've finished building the next 7 or is it 8 dams that they've got penciled in. When they've done that they can do virtually anything they like and nobody, not the Thai's, Burmese, Lao, Cambodians or Vietnamese will be able to do anything. If they want any minerals in Burma or a piece of North Vietnam they just turn the water off. Perfect strategy and very Chinese.

As you have stated it, you can’t. If the marriage took place in the UK but wasn’t registered then the marriage is void, you cannot have a marriage in the UK and for it to be legal without it being registered.. Neither the British Embassy nor Consulate will be interested in your case because as far as they are concerned you weren’t married in the UK. You claim that you were prevented from fulfilling the conditions of registration requiring you to be resident for the minimum seven days but it seems likely from what you say that you were also in breach of the Asylum and Immigration Act 2004 that requires foreign nationals who are living abroad but who want to marry in the UK to obtain specific entry clearance for this purpose. This would have taken the form of a marriage visit visa. The visa should have been obtained from your nearest British Embassy or Consulate. You would have needed to have shown this visa to the registrar when giving notice of marriage. Any attempt to circumvent these regulations will be looked on by The Home Office with obvious suspicion. The marriage ceremony cannot take place without these preliminaries. If you have got married in an Indian Embassy or Consulate whilst you were in the UK then you are married under Indian law and you or your wife should contact the Indian authorities.

Hi,

I am an Indian national, and my wife is a British National. We both married in UK some three months ago, however, due to time restrictions, we were unable to have our marriage registered at a UK civil register office in order for it to be recognised under the UK law.

We then returned together to Bangkok, as I'm working here and have a valid work permit. Our marriage is recognised by the Indian embassy and my wife's full name and Passport number have been endorsed on my passport. As a result, Thai authorities now recognise us as a couple and have granted my wife a dependent visa. My question is, how do I get our marriage registered under UK law, or with the British embassy?

Thanks in advance.

I'm sorry I don't understand how you claiming that you got married in the UK but then go on to say that you failed to register the marriage because of time restrictions. If the marriage isn't registered in the UK then under what law are you claiming to have entered into matrimony? I suspect that the British authorities may refuse to recognize the marriage.

Thanks a lot for your confirmation !

Some time a thought i am at holliday in a parallel Universe.

Or she is listed on a black-list or something like that.

ZeroNull

Not not a parallel universe but definitely a Mickey Mouse country. 60 years ago the American O.S.S. used to call it 'Toyland', I don't think much has changed, do you? Try looking around, sorry but the signs are everywhere and it's getting worse.