MartinBKK

Hello again.

Many thanks to those of you who provided constructive replies in response to what i thought was an interesting question.

If it is indeed asked once a month then it can't just be me who was interested to know the answers.

I would have to disagree that this has been comprehensively covered before. Having searched the forum i see there have been a few related threads but there is definitely room for further discussion.

I have never been to Isaan before but i have met a lot of ladies from there - he he he.

Look forward to visiting in the near future. Any recommendations of particular things to visit? I might prefer to take a plane though i don't fancy riding so far on a bus!!!!

Cheers.

Hi!!

I have been living in Bangkok for a year now and i have always wondered what farang do with themselves that live outside of the city?

Don't you find you have a lot of spare time on your hands?

Don't you get a little restless?

Why did you choose to live in Isaan?

Im very curious to the know the answers.....

Thanks Crossy for the useful info.

I am 27 years old so will not be eligible for the non-imm on retirement grounds.

With regard to investing in a business it is something i have considered before but not persued. I don't know if there is anyone to "assist" me in trying to get a non-imm B?

If i don't have a non-imm B am i right in thinking i cannot register the car in my own name? There seems to be some confusion about this so if someone could clarify that would be helpful.

I am located in Bangkok in the On Nut area.

If any other members are aware of insurance companies that accept an IDP i'd be grateful if they could advise in the thread.

Many thanks.

I am not interested in setting up a business here or investing in Thailand. This means i cannot get a non-immigrant visa.

Does that mean i cannot legally drive a car then as i will not be able to get a Thai licence?

Anyone know any insurance companies which will accept an IDP?

Anyone to assist me with this such as a well connected lawyer?

Thanks.

Sorry if this has been covered before but i have looked through the forum and still have a question.

I live in Thailand on a tourist visa. I do not have a work permit. Am i able to buy a car and drive legally in Thailand with either a full UK licence or an IDP?

I would be grateful if you could advise my options.

Thanks.

I stayed at the Oakwood City Residence for two nights a year ago. I did have one of the cheaper rooms but overall I thought it was pretty poor. The bed was one of the most uncomfortable i have ever slept on. Perhaps there are more luxurious rooms than i was allocated however you won't get me staying there again.

I have also stayed in the President Park in Soi 24 which is the place being discussed here which is a lot nicer than Oakwood. No complaints really but nothing really special. I am not sure if they have a Tuk Tuk service to the skytrain perhaps someone else knows however it is the opposite end of the Soi and a little far to walk. Plenty of motorbikes though if you don't mind taking one. The capitol club is IMHO the finest fitness facility in Bangkok. Usage is complimentary if you are staying in President Park.

The President Solitaire (located in Soi 11) where i have stayed many months is IMHO the best of the 3. The service is really excellent and when i used to come to Bangkok regularly from the UK it was my number 1 accommodation choice. A Tuk Tuk shuttle operates regularly to the Skytrain and Soi 11 is a great location. Prices are similar to PP.

Hope this helps.

Ok thanks to everyone so far for the help. I have posted off my application for an IDP today.

I do live in Thailand at the moment however i do monthly visa runs. I also do not have a work permit. I am not looking to invest in Thailand i only want to reside here for the time being i have no idea for how long.

If i want to purchase and drive a car here what are my options? Can i obtain a Thai license without a long term visa and work permit? Do i need a Thai license or would i be able to purchase and drive a car legally with an IDP?

I'd be grateful if you could advise my options.

Many thanks.

My international driving permit has expired.

Any idea how i can get another without going back to the UK?

I really don't want to go all that way just to renew my licence.

Any help appreciated.

PS. I have a full valid UK licence.

Looking for apartment in Sukhumvit ideally between Soi 1 - Soi 39.

Minimum 2 bedrooms.

Minimum size 125sqm.

Must have at least 1 phone line.

Must be able to get permission to put 7.5ft satellite dish on the roof.

Prepared to sign 1 year contract with 6 month break clause.

Budget - 40,000pcm.

Anyone got anything of interest please PM me.

Thanks.

How do you configure your browser to work with VPS then?

Is it the same as configuring it to use a proxy?

I heard that KSC blocks access to proxy. Is this true and do any other ISP's do this? Would this mean that i couldn't use VPS if my isp is KSC?

Sorry to sound so stupid i am useless with computer's.

Well it is all important to get access, why not get a cheap VPS for less than $20 a month and install a Squid proxy server on it.

That's really a great idea. Bravo.

I can smell from it a possible business.

You should sell your services to create (contract for VPS and installation of proxy server + training) such personal proxy for people living in thailand !

Excuse my ingorance but what is VPS?

Does CSloxinfo allow proxy access as i have found that KSC does not? Im looking for an SME service can any other users recommend a good one please?

Cheers

I should mention the reason i need a new service is i am moving homes and my new place doesn't have a TRUE line.

This is a review of four ADSL broadband packages available in Bangkok from True, Buddy, and CS Loxinfo. Feel free to add your own review. Speeds were tested at Speakeasy and other speed test sites in the US.

True Home Package: The good thing is that it's pretty cheap. The bad is pretty much everything else. Actual speeds are abyssmal, no matter what speed you signed up for... typically you will get around 10-20% of your actual speed for international transfers. Some people have had luck with it, but don't count on it. Reliability is pretty good, except for the very reliable cutoff every 24 hours. P2P is probably out of the question, since True does traffic shaping.

True SME Package: Not so cheap (2400/month for 2.5mbits), but not too expensive. Actual speeds are an improvement over the home package, but not by much... about 20-40% actual speed. This may or may not be my own imagination, since queries to True have produced answers ranging from "It's a different share ratio from the home package" to "It's the home package, just for SME LANs". Thing is that you need a phone line in your company name... individuals can't apply. Reliability is the same as the home package.

BuddyBB: Pretty darn cheap (500/month for 2mbits). Actual speeds for international web access are really good (1mbits, constant). The killer is that that's about all that is fast.... everything other than http traffic goes at a snail's pace. Also, the reliability is lacking, to say the least. There will be sporadic outages where your transfers (for everything, from games to voip to http) will just drop to nothing for a few seconds, and then resume (hopefully... if it hasn't timed out... like games). Payment is by scratch cards, apply at your local AIS store. I'd recommend this for anyone who does only web surfing and nothing else.

CS Lox SME: I only recently got this, so no long term impressions yet. It's the most expensive, at 2400/month for 1mbit (more expensive if you use a True line). However, it's got me quite impressed. Speeds are as advertised... I'm getting 850-900kbits from US sites. Not only that, p2p actually seems to work, and *at rated speed*. Reliability is great, with no 24 hour cutoff. Application was by phone, requiring only the faxing of some ID... an individual can apply. You also get a fixed IP.

We purchased materials from the Pahurat (Indian) textile market. We needed 34 meters (big house) and paid like 160B/meter after that we searched for a tailorshop where they made the material into curtian.

Pahurat Textile Market

How to Get There: Take the subway to MRT Hualompong station. From there, bus number 40 passes through Pahurat and Chinatown. Several taxis and tuk-tuk's are also available for hire (35-40 baht).

What to Buy: At Sampeng Lane, wholesale goods such as rubber items (flip-flops, baskets, etc) and herbs; at Pahurat, textiles, Indian foods and gifts.

Hours: Around 09:00 - 18:00 weekdays (hours vary weekends)

An option to get to Pahurat, though a bit exhausting, is to walk south along Sampeng Lane from Chinatown down to Chakraphet Rd and Pahurat. Several sub-soi's and shopping blocks can be explored this way, not to mention Sampeng Lane's deals on wholesale items. Wholesale goods such as flip-flops, toys, household items, and herbs can be bought here. An added feature to the area are circus-like acts of balancing and maneuvering performed by men transporting an astonishing amount of wholesale goods (sacks, boxes, etc) with small dolley's while weaving in and out of traffic - an interesting feat. Also while in the area, don't forget to visit the covered market lane between Ratchawong and Mahachak Roads.

Once crossing Chakraphek Rd and entering Pahurat, stores selling formal dresses, gowns, and even (royal-like) crowns glitter and sparkle for young ladies aspiring to become hi-so princesses. Crowns aside, within these first few blocks lay Pahurat's textile selling action, so choose one of the many small alleyways and dive in to the heart of it all. Within you'll find a labrynth of shops and vendors selling all kinds of colourful textiles - enough to cause a mild panic attack to those caught unprepared or already fatigued.

Making your way through one of these alleys and towards the other side of the block, shops selling posters of Hindu Gods alongside various Indian paraphernalia slowly begin to appear. A few cafes filled with Indian men chatting away, not to mention mouth-watering smells of Indian cuisine, confirm you're in 'Little India'. On the other side of the block more gastronomical delights await as cafes and a few food hawkers along Soi ATM provide delicious north Indian cuisine.

From http://www.bangkok.com/shopping/market-who...le-markets.html

I live in Sukhumvit currently but am moving to On Nut (hence the need for curtains).

How much did the tailor charge for making them Zoltannyc?

For 1000 baht per fitted curtain i would be prepared to travel to the lady's home. Do you think you could PM me her number?

Thanks everyone for your help.

In response to the UNI posters.

UK nationals pay less tuition fees because they are subsidised by the government. Do you really expect the UK government to subsidise foreign nationals? I don't think the UK taxpayers would be very happy about that!!!!

I am completely against discriminatory pricing but that just isn't the best example.

I have been living in Sukhumvit for around a year and i am shocked at how high my electricty bill is every month. I live in a condo and the price is 5 baht per unit which i guess is similar to what a lot of others are paying. There are only 2 of us and we never run more than 1 aircon unit at once and don't spend a lot of time at home. We are very careful to turn all lights and air cons off when we do go out. Typical monthly charge is around 7000 baht (USD 185). This is more than i was paying in London before i moved out here. As a result of this i have decided to move to a townhome where i will be paying the standard rate per unit.

Is 5 baht per unit a fair price or a rip off farang price?

How do you feel about your monthly eletricity bill?

area rugs?

Try the NGO shop (Royallly sponsored?? next to the DoiTung Coffee shop in Suan Lum)

If all else fails you could always go out to seacon square... it is a massive shopping centre full of furniture, rugs etc.

Good Luck

Im looking for some INEXPENSIVE rugs. I have tried MBK and Seacon already. Anyone got any ideas?

Cheers

How inexpensive? What kind of rug are you looking for? Maybe try Jatujak weekend markets?

As inexpensive as possible really. Just something to make the place feel more homely. Will try Jatujak thanks.

Cheers.

I've been using True's SME 1mbps service for a year and have hardly had any problems. I live in Sukhumvit and rely on the internet for my business. If it isn't working i don't make any money. I would estimate i have been unable to use the service for around 3 days since i had it installed and i have been satisfied with the speeds. It is nowhere near as quick as the UK however.

Im looking for some INEXPENSIVE curtains for my rented townhome. Any ideas where i may buy some? I have tried MBK already but they were more expensive than i am willing to spend.

Thanks.

area rugs?

Try the NGO shop (Royallly sponsored?? next to the DoiTung Coffee shop in Suan Lum)

If all else fails you could always go out to seacon square... it is a massive shopping centre full of furniture, rugs etc.

Good Luck

Im looking for some INEXPENSIVE rugs. I have tried MBK and Seacon already. Anyone got any ideas?

Cheers

Ha i was right he does have A LOT of experience!!!! I think some people need to buy me a beer

UK male 18yrs in Thailand looking for a new and challenging position with a resort/hotel in thailand. Any readers have any info, let me know.

Is that "18 years in Thailand" ???

Bloody hel_l I might have just read the post totally wrong - if so OP ignore my post!!!!

Or I might have...

I think the OP might have A LOT of experience!!!!

Do you really think a college degree is that important? I have a good degree from a top UK university and i don't think it has helped me particularly. I tried to get into banking after i left University but found it extremely difficult to get a job. I was lucky i fell into something else after a year of looking but this was through a family contact. Degrees are now extremely epensive and those students without financial help from parents graduate with huge debts in the UK and even more so in the United States.

My TGF has a degree in Electrical Engineering from Bangkok university and she has found things the same here as I did back in the UK. She graduated over a year ago and is still looking for a job.

Out of the people i keep in touch with from University the most successful are the ones who dropped out and got into the world of work before the financial services cull in 2003.

Some of the ones who graduated still work in low paying temporary jobs even though they all have excellent qualifications and all the required skills for higher paying jobs. Before people come out and say "they must be lazy" or "they aren't trying hard enough" believe me they are.

Unless you have graduated recently you don't realise that a good degree does not automatically equal a good job and bright prospects.

Adam. My son is 23, In the military with his whole life ahead of him just like you. I suggested to him to see the world and experiece it all. He told me he wants too. I told him like I'd tell you. Don't get married until your about 30. There is a whole big world out there full of women at every turn. Your very young and things change! I would also strongly recommend that you get a college degree under your belt. You'll have more options and open doors. Just stop and think of all your options!!!! The real world out there takes quite a bit of money to support a wife and family. I only hope for your sake that your not one of those "got to have it now types" Usually that doesn't pan out to well. When you think, make sure it is with the head on your shoulders and not the other.

Good luck kid. You got the world by the balls and you don't even know it!!!!!!!!!

Let me get this straight, you’re 22 years old, your single but have a Thai girlfriend, you have a job that pays quite well and you travel to Thailand three times a year.

Now on the assumption that I got all that correctly my advice is as follows:

Cut the trips to Thailand, save some money, quite your job, go to Europe, see the UK, see Scotland and Ireland (maybe get a job in London for six months or more), go to France, Italy, Greece, go skiing in the Alps, spend a month or more in Berlin, go to Hungary and spend some time in Budapest. Visit Scandanavia, spend a few summer weeks up in Norway. Get yourself over to New York, Colorado, LA, go to Mexico and spend a while in Cuba.

hel_l there’s a whole world out there.

Good advice, My middle son was 22 when he first came here, fell in Love with Thailand would have done ANYTHING to stay....... I told him he was far to young ..go home and forget LOS for now, find a decent English girl and do what MOST people do......Now he HAS a GREAT G/F ..GREAT JOB, is VERY HAPPY....to bring her here on holiday and then go home.

But there were difficult times when he could only visualise living here... Its OK for reprobates like me as I am old enough and did my first 49 years in the UK achieving my goals (except fot 3 bad marriages)...Take the advice given here... if you are still dreaming of Thailand in 30 years ...come back..although many of us will be long gone by then..but there will always be others to take our places

But you will have moved on with your life by then and remember it as a fond distant memory

Good Luck mate

TP

Why do you need to follow what "MOST people do?". I think someone of 22yrs is old enough to decide for themselves what they want to do with their own life. Im 27 and i moved here just over a year ago. I have travelled extensively but there is nowhere i would rather be than Thailand. I am very happy here and I certainly have no intention of going back to the UK. Whilst there is a lot of good advice here only you can decide what you want to do and where your priorities lie.

I have lived in Sukhumvit Soi 13 for almost a year and have been using TRUE'S SME 1Mbps service. I have hardly had any problems with it and I rely completely on the internet for my living. It is not as good as ADSL back in the UK but for Thailand I have been satisfied with it. It costs 2500 Baht per month.