ricklev

Any suggestions for first class insurance for a 1-year-old Yamaha Aerox? Roojai quoted around 6,500 baht per year. Is that reasonable? Any bad or good experiences with Roojai?  Thanks. 

1 hour ago, Madgee said:

Should be ..........83,500  

You think so? 

I'm thinking about buying a new Aerox. I'm curious, if the bike is priced at 83,500, what is the actual price out the door after tax, registration, and whatever else they charge?  More or less... 

1 minute ago, BritTim said:

Assumption: you have a long term extension of a Non Immigrant permission to stay.

 

Usually, you must do the transfer at the Immigration Office that issued your most recent extension. If you have changed your permanent address (TM30 and long term rental contract to prove it) you may be allowed to do the transfer at the immigration office in the area you have moved to..

Thanks. Yes one year non-immigrant B and I have not moved from Bangkok. Oh well I guess I will have go to Chaengwattana. At least they have what seems to be a functional appointment system now. 

Can I do the visa transfer from old to new passport at any immigration office or does it need to be where the visa extension was issued?  I did the visa extension at Changwattana but will be in Chiang Mai in a couple of weeks and the immigration office is more conveniently located there. Thanks if anybody knows the answer. 

Can I do the Visa transfer from old to new passport at any immigration office or does it need to be where the visa extension was issued?  I dod the visa extension at Changwattana but will be in Chiang Mai in a couple of weeks and the immigration office is more conveniently located there. Thanks if anybody knows the answer. 

https://www.mea.or.th/en/aboutelectric/116/280/form/11    Interesting to play around with to see the progressive rates, etc.

Oops, MJCM posted this at the same time as me!

Whenever I go back to the USA I am reminded that my country, the self-proclaimed greatest country in the history of the world, has not figured out how to clean their anuses.  Seems to explain a lot, although I am not sure what.  

1 hour ago, TallGuyJohninBKK said:

Odd... I did my 90-day report online about two weeks ago, and got my confirmation receipt/next reporting date notice back in email 3 days later, so all is good.

 

Now today, I get an email from BKK CW Immigration reminding me that my next reporting date is coming up tomorrow (the original reporting date prior to my most recent report two weeks back).

 

Maybe they've started their Song Kran celebrating a bit early this year???

 

Maybe the 12-year-old boy that does all their IT work had to take a couple of Wednesday afternoons off to get his braces adjusted so they have fallen behind.

2 hours ago, arithai12 said:

You are coming for a few months... do you intend to bring the newly purchased Aerox back to BKK with you? In this case it makes a lot of sense to buy it in Bangkok (registration, licence plate). Easy enough to let Kerry or similar ship it for you.

 

If you really want to buy in CM, the most equipped dealer is Charoen in Prokapplao (spelling) inside the moat. Though I didn't see any ready to sell Aerox when I was there a few weeks ago. If you decide to buy a very good well kept used model, PM me.

 

PCX160 is a totally different feeling. If you like the Aerox feeling, try Honda ADV160.

Thanks. No I'm not looking for a PCX. I just put that in there as a comment about supply issues. 

I called around today. The shop on Rajadamnern has the standard model in stock but not the ABS version. Same is true in Bangkok but they are adding 2500 to the list price. 

I'm not really concerned about where it's registered as I go back and forth between Bangkok and Chiang Mai a lot. Up until couple months ago it was easy to ride to the train station from my condo in Bangkok and hop on a train but that's gotten complicated as they've moved the station far away. It's easy enough to take it to the post office though. 

I've had the same Honda Wave for 15 years now and that thing is an amazing trooper.  It only has 25K on it and looks like new.  However, I rented a new Aerox in December in Chiang Mai for a month and rode up to Pai and around town and I realized how much the technology has advanced.  It was a pleasure.  

I sent you a PM about your used bike. It's a possibility!

47 minutes ago, BritManToo said:

Just logged into my Zenni account, seems to be no problem shipping to Thailand.

Added my usual item to Cart and went as far as the payment page.

My last email from them was dated 1st April 2023 (yesterday).

Why would they email me if they no longer ship to Thailand?

 

Please post a link to where it says they won't ship to Thailand.

That's good news.  I went to their help page and asked the help bot if they were shipping to Thailand.  Maybe it just hasn't been updated.

5 minutes ago, OneMoreFarang said:

Why online?

You need an expert to measure your eyes to know exactly which glasses you need. So why not buy glasses fonce rom an epert?

 

And if you don't really care about exact measurement or exact glasses just get one of those 100B or 200B versions in shopping malls? 

Once you have a prescription and measurements they are a quarter of the price of the glasses sold in Thailand  at all quality levels. Zenni was anyway. 

I just discovered that www.zennioptical.com no longer delivers to Thailand. That's too bad, as it was great value. Anybody have any other online sources they've had a good experience with? Thanks.

On 3/5/2023 at 2:40 PM, Mickeymaus said:

My "junk" is now 5 years old and completely problem free. But I see now why mine was so expensive - 600 Baht compared to 200 Baht. I have the same one but with voice output. A friendly female voice explains everything. This is 615 Baht at Lazada. The voice output I always stop - can't be switched off completely. I can't hear it anymore. This is how I waste my money... 

 

https://s.lazada.co.th/s.RJFQ0

My cheap Chinese one also has that loud female orator (speaking English).  I found a couple of small pieces of electricians tape on speaker output dulled her to tolerable levels.   

On 2/24/2023 at 1:51 PM, Sheryl said:

Dr. Mason is unquestionably the best.  And feedback on m has been uniformly excellent.

 

There are good and bad (and in-between) doctors at all hospitals. Experience with one doctor or service is not generalizable to the entire hospital.

Dr. Mason was helpful and patient. And for anybody who runs into this thread looking for an MRI recommendation  he said the images from Prachachuen MRI were of good quality. 

The cheap Chinese one I bought on Lazada works fine and correlates with the hospital readings.  And it tells me "You have a good heart" in English when it tells me the results.  

Not sure if someone posted it already, but this works to take you to the two that accept foreign addresses, depending on your age and income, I guess. 

 https://apps.irs.gov/app/freeFile/general/   I use fileyourtaxes.com  

9 hours ago, Jingthing said:

This is about a possible way to use part of Advantage without that requirement. 

But a US address is required.

 

Have you claimed social security yet?

Thanks.  I am 63 and have not claimed social security.   Actually, I am still 3 quarters shy but will pay self employment tax this year to reach 40 quarters.   I  am worried about future healthcare expenses and insurance as I age.   I've been in Thailand now for 25 years and have Thai private insurance that will not cover me past 70.  It's not such a great policy anyway.  Currently only about 40,000 baht per year though with a 10,000 baht deductible for 5,000,000 baht coverage with a lot of limitations on that 5,000,000.  I expect pretty serious premium increases when I turn 65.

I did watch the video and thought it was interesting that he says unequivocally that you do not need to be in the USA to enroll in a Medicare Advantage plan although clearly you need a USA address.  I guess he can answer your question about the differing addresses.  

I've kind of been thinking about returning to Hawaii when I turn 65 and health insurance is one of the deciding factors.  I will still have to work unfortunately.  I've spent the last twenty years minimally employed teaching at a Thai university.  Many years ago I took the Hawaii bar exam to give myself the option of returning and working in my old age.  Unfortunately, I did not factor in how unappealing having a job would seem in my sixties.  ???? 

Interesting!  I will be turning 65 in a year and have been curious about that.  Seems like you have to have six months per year in the USA for any Advantage benefits? I did read this the other day:  https://internationalliving.com/everything-you-need-to-know-about-medicare-overseas/

6 minutes ago, scubascuba3 said:

i needed dye\contrast when i had my shoulder MRI, maybe it depends on issue

I hope the images are clear enough.  I would not want to do another MRI.  

50 minutes ago, scubascuba3 said:

Did you get a shoulder MRI with dye? i forget the correct terminology

No dye/contrast.  It was 7200 baht.  I initially said that I had a referral to a Chiang Mai MRI center from my orthopedist's clinic in Chiang Mai, as I thought that might be needed or useful, but they explained that with a doctor's referral the fee was 9000 baht.  I then said I was coming in for the MRI without a doctor's referral and was given the 7200 baht price.  I guess they pay a commission.      

8 minutes ago, dddave said:

I have been seeing orthopedic Dr. Somchai Kuptniratsaikul at BCH for four years for arthritic knee treatment and have no complaints.  He speaks excellent English.

Thanks!  I wish I could go to BCH but it looks like I better go see Dr. Mason at Bumrungrad as he is a shoulder specialist and have made a booking with him.  I just got my MRI results an hour ago and while it is mostly gibberish to me it does look like surgery will be recommended, although I am holding out hope for trying physical therapy again first.  

2 hours ago, Sheryl said:

Dr. Mason is unquestionably the best.  And feedback on m has been uniformly excellent.

 

There are good and bad (and in-between) doctors at all hospitals. Experience with one doctor or service is not generalizable to the entire hospital.

By the way Sheryl, I noticed in a previous thread that you recommended an orthopedist at Chula hospital and I thought I would give the after hours clinic a try as I live walking distance from there.

Registration went fairly smoothly but your suggested doctor was not available so they recommended another doctor whose specialty was shoulders and who was available  in about a week.

I arrived at 4 pm last week and saw the doctor around 6:30 pm.  I basically wanted his opinion on getting a shot of corticosteroid.  Nice guy, said he did not think that was a good idea as it weakens the tendon and said I needed an MRI which would be about 8000 baht.  I spent a total of two minutes with him.  He did a couple of strength tests and that was it, but I understand they did indicate the need for an MRI.   The fee was 1200 baht which seemed a bit high to me.

I guess if I didn't have insurance and potentially needed to do the surgery at a public hospital I might have done the MRI there and consulted with him again but I decided against going back, mostly due to the waiting.

30 minutes ago, Sheryl said:

Dr. Mason is unquestionably the best.  And feedback on m has been uniformly excellent.

 

There are good and bad (and in-between) doctors at all hospitals. Experience with one doctor or service is not generalizable to the entire hospital.

Thanks.