wpcoe

Meter taxis often arn't and say how much they want. Don't use them. First floor is best for a true lower cost taxi fare. Ask before you get in. Don't be afraid to get out.

In the context of this thread "Suvarnabhumi to Pattaya," there are no metered taxis, so to speak. The meter only applies within the Bangkok metropolitan area. Outside of that area, it's a point of negotiating a fare. However, the ground floor taxi queues have a placard with flat-rate pricing to areas beyond and will write the price on the form they give you. I believe Pattaya was B1500 the last time I used it.

If one's destination from the airport *is* within the BMA, then yes only use a taxi that will turn on the meter. Keep in mind, that there is a B50 surcharge for taking a taxi from the airport if you use the ground floor taxi queues, and the departure level taxis may feel entitled to add that fee, as well. And, in any case, highway tolls are expected to be paid separately and additionally.

This may have been discussed to death before (but I don't usually follow marriage extension stuff), but any rationalization why retirees get the option of combined income+savings to reach their B800,000, while married fellows don't get that option?

And to keep things in perspective, it can be as little as B2000 extra to start the process all over again with extensions in Thailand, assuming the he can arrive on a 30-day visa-exempt stamp (if not, need to factor in cost/hassle of getting a visa while still in home country) and he reports to immigration within ten days of arrival. He can obtain a special Non-Immigrant O visa for B2000 and then apply for the retirement extension on that. In Cholburi (Pattaya/Jomtien) Immigrations, they often will do the entire process in the same visit, though I think I've heard of folks being told to come back in two months to finish the whole transaction.

I understand the procedure varies in other Immigrations offices. Some upcountry locations apparently send applicants to Bangkok to get the Non Immigrant O, and some routinely make the applicant return in two months to get the retirement extension. Cholburi does it on site and maybe a 50/50 chance of completing the process on the initial visit.

Just trying to reassure the OP that "all is not lost," if he needs to start all over again with a new extension.

Might be wrong but i think the place that has been mentioned is on the row of shops/resturants right opposite the Train Station, it's next door to the Visa Run place.

I'm pretty sure that they have extended as before i'm sure it was only a single unit but i went past the other day and noticed that it is now 2 units.

That may be the place with the monthly book exchanges, I don't know. But, the place I mentioned -- a second place, which is actually a book store -- is located on Phetkasem Road, not opposite the train station.

I only mention this, since you quoted my post, and people might think this new book store is opposite the train station. It isn't.

If I understand correctly, you want to switch to True if and when True offers 3G in Samui?

I assume you know that True does NOT currently offer 3G in Samui. According to their web page (http://www.truemove.com/3g/en/wifi_area_bkk.html), they only offer 3G in Bangkok, Cholburi, Chiang Mai and Phuket.

You do not need to be married to get a True account. (I'm single, and have a postpaid True account.)

You can even keep your same AIS telephone number, as long as the AIS SIM has been registered in your name for at least seven days. It's called MNP (Mobile Number Portability). See http://www.truemove.com/mnp/en/mnp-about.html for information.

I MNP'd my DTAC (prepaid) phone number to True last December. I don't recall my immigrations status being a factor. They only asked for a photocopy of my passport photo page. So, as far as they knew, I was here on a 30-day visa-exempt entry.

My understanding is that DTAC's EDGE service is faster and more reliable than AIS. Of course, if ANYBODY offers 3G in Samui, it should be much faster than any EDGE service.

[edited to add:]

Hmmm. I just realized that that True web page listing service only in Bangkok, Phuket, Chiang Mai and Cholburi is not complete -- I use True 3G at home here in Hua Hin! So, maybe there *is* True 3G in Samui already???

If they are both Core i3 or both Core i5, then, yeah go for the cheapest. But, if only one is Core i5 and the price is the same (or close), go for the Core i5 -- you'll get speed increase in some situations from the Turbo Mode that is not on the i3.

As I understand it, if you want to use an AT&T SIM in an iPhone4, you first have to activate it in a non-iPhone4. If you simply buy the SIM, put it in the iPhone4 and try to use it, AT&T recognizes the IMEI (or some other data) from the phone that identifies it as an iPhone4 and won't activate. But, if you first activate the SIM in another phone and subsequently transfer it to the iPhone4, AT&T never verifies the IMEI data after initial activation.

(I'm not sure if it's just the iPhone4 that's restricted that way, it may also be other iPhone models. I just remember reading about it when I was thinking of bringing my iPhone4 on my next US visit.)

TrueMove now cap their 3G at 3 GB per month. If you have an original "unlimited" plan then you will be transitioned off that by True in the near future.

True have a 3 GB monthly plan for 699 baht, which also includes 3 GB of 2G (EDGE/GPRS) and unlimited WiFi (new login every 60 min, I think). Can you see a True WiFi AP? That would be good.

I have a True 3G plan for B599/month which I *think* is the one that used to be unlimited 3G -- I get 3GB/month 3G data. If/when I use up the 3GB allocation, I get unlimited EDGE. I also get unlimited free True WiFi hotspot use.

You just cut a length of water pipe to the required length and drive into the soil. Do not encase in concrete and leave open to the weather. Paint the connection with a metallic paint for corrosion protection. Ref AS3000.

Why should it not be encased in concrete nor protected from the weather? (Or, am I mis-reading what you meant?)

Ok I will ask again What is distressed property?

http://lmgtfy.com/?q=what+is+distressed+property

dam_n, then the OP really doesn't qualify for anything!

At the moment, he would *just barely* meet the requirement for a marriage extension, no?

GBP 158.37/week x 52 weeks/yr = GBP 8235.24/yr = THB 402,957.24/yr at this very minute per Yahoo Finance.

Granted, that's a mighty close squeak by, and highly dependent on the exchange rate in effect on the date of application/approval.

I'm not as familiar with marriage extensions, as with retirement. Is there an option to use "income + savings" to meet the B400,000 requirement? If so, a small balance to account for currency fluctuations would be highly recommended.

[edited, because I realized the income is B40,000/month, not B400,000/year:]

Okay GPB 8235.24/yr ÷ 12 = GBP 686.27/month = THB 33,579.77, which is a significant shortfall from the B40,000/month.

So, I guess only if the income+savings > B400,000 is acceptable, would he have a shot.

...or if using the "money in the bank" method, there may be timing issues with having the money in Thailand at specific times.

And, some people (like moi) like to do things early, in case they forget to do them later! We are retirees, after all.

BrianBkyn: Which Immigrations office was this?

Sort of related to this topic, there is a new foreign books store on Phetkasem on the west side between the tessabahn/police station corner (never can remember the name of that main road that leads to the train station) and Soi 80. It's on the corner of either a soi or an alley. I didn't notice it until this week, so I think it's new. Maybe you could barter/trade books with the owner? If needed, I can report back with a more detailed description of the location and a picture.

The new one at Naprob I can highly reccomend. They go a smashing Tikka Masala for like, 120 Baht. Everything is cooked fresh right in front of you in the small open kitchen.

Not the best place to eat in as its real small - three tables lol and the staff stand there, stone cold silent, eyes glued to you with every mouth. Best for take aways.

I also am a fan of that place. Odd name, like "Thank You in Indian," but highly recommended.

Funny you should mention the size and the "attentiveness" of the staff. Here I thought they were flirting with me.

And, one tip for that place, before you enter, read the large menu panel posted on the window facing into the mall. They have meal sets that are not on the printed menu you'll receive when you sit down. Very good value in the meal sets.

I just returned from Villa Market and guess what they have: unfiltered apple cider vinegar. It's the same brand (Bragg's) as goodkarmathiland.com, and amazingly (since I've heard Villa tends to be expensive), it was cheaper at Villa! They also have a larger size (32 oz) which works out cheaper per unit, but for now, I'm content with the 16 oz bottle. They also had another brand, whose name escapes me now, for about the same price in both size bottles.

I'm still grateful for the recommendations earlier in the thread, as from time to time I need to find some more obscure health foods, and doubt Villa will always have what I'm looking for.

Just returned from MiniFarm. They only had Heinz filtered vinegar, but the walk over there was well worth it -- MiniFarm is quite a nice little restaurant!

I'm dripping wet with sweat now, but if not today, then tomorrow I'll seek out the health food store in the new market, and if not, then proceed down to Golden Place. If all those turn up empty, goodkarmathailand.com does offer the vinegar. I'd just prefer to buy locally if I can.

Thanks for the feeback. So far, it sounds like nobody has the long-term varying visual acuity that I have.

Do you take medication for anything on a regular basis.?.

No, I don't take any medications (or do illegal drugs). The most exotic I get is taking daily multi-vitamins (when I don't forget.)

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/dry-eyes/DS00463/DSECTION=symptoms

then my far vision starts to blur

You might want to check Google and above about dry eyes. I have bad sight but it is much worse when dry (and my eyes are extremely dry - doctor always mentions it) and use Vislube during day to help keep surface wet.

Hmmm. That's possible, in that I do have that one symptom, "Blurred vision, often worsening at the end of the day or after focusing for a prolonged period," sort of. My vision usually isn't blurred at all until after eight to ten hours. When I don't get a solid night's sleep and wake up with out-of-focus vision, it doesn't deteriorate further as the day progresses. But, still, it's not far off the mark. I have none of the other symptoms like stinging, burning, scratchy eyes, or (from other web sites) scratchy, gritty feeling, eyelids that stick together when waking up, etc.

I'll pick up some "liquid tears" at a pharmacy and use them as directed for a few days and see if there is any change.

I'm surprised there aren't scheduled buses/vans from HH to Suvarnhbhumi airport, or are there some that I'm not aware of.?

I was surprised to find a van directly from Soi 80 to Pattaya/NaJomtien/Sattahip that dropped me off at the soi I wanted on Sukhumvit in Jomtien. A direct soi-to-soi service for what I needed. Now if I can find one to the airport...

That is very close to where I live (Soi 80). I've walked around in that shopping mall and didn't see a health food place. Need to look again!

The Indian restaurant on the ground floor (name is something strange like "Thank You in Indian") is VERY good.

I havnt been there but somebody mentioned there was a new health food unit in the new shopping center by the traffic lights....maybe worth a look if your down that way.

Which new shopping center and/or which traffic lights?

30 year mortgages - no way

Is it standard with Thai mortgages to have no pre-payment penalities, like most mortgages in the USA?

If so, there's no need to resist a 30-year mortgage. Just calculate what the payments would be for what ever term you prefered (e.g. 10-year, 15-year) and make a payment for that amount each month. With excess payment amount being applied to principal each month, you'll end up paying off the mortgage close to the 10-year or 15-year period.

Of course, if there ARE pre-payment penalties in Thailand, never mind. (In an Emily Litella voice.)

For most of my adult life my eyesight has not been stable.

Twenty to thirty years ago, I sometimes would need glasses/contacts for nearsightedness (couldn't see distant objects clearly), occasionally perfect 20/20 vision for any depth of field. No predictable pattern. Sometimes a day or with perfect vision, sometimes only part of a day. But, probably 80% of the time, I needed glasses/contacts.

In my late 40's I started needing reading glasses *occasionally*, but again, some days all fields of vision were fine, other days I needed glasses, sometimes for far, some times for near, sometimes for both. I asked about it with a doctor at BNH, and he said he'd never heard of such a thing, and "was I sure?" <sigh...>

Then a few years ago (I'm now 55), I had an industrial accident where I was thrown backward and the back of my head smacked the edge of a stainless steel counter. Hard. Since then, my far distance vision is fine for about eight to ten hours after a restful night's sleep, then my far vision starts to blur and I need glasses. If I only sleep a few hours, or the sleep is restless, my far vision is not clear when I wake up. My near vision mostly still needs reading glasses (+1.50) but sometimes varies unpredictably. Even if I get bi-focals, I will still need to not wear them most mornings -- just reading glasses when needed -- so still need to keep two sets of glasses at hand. And, even more irritating, I need to keep a pair of +2.0 reading glasses for those occasions when I need them.

Anybody out there make any sense out of this? Is this common? Does anybody else have to carry around two (or more) sets of glasses, never knowing which one will be needed? Does this sound like any known pattern/syndrome that can be treated? Since I asked the BNH ophthalmologist and got that stunning feedback, I'm not confident I'll find competent medical advice on the situation in Thailand. I'm not worried about it, mainly curious, and reading the "Reading Glasses" thread inspired me to ask about it here.

2) The Express service will be extended to Phayathai station to interchange with the BTS - however not for every train.

That is a very good change. When I use the City Line, there are plenty of people with luggage using the Phaya Thai station. Getting them off of the City Line (where luggage is almost always in the way) and giving them a chance to get a seat (with the jostling for position to get on a train, the people saddled with luggage usually lose first dibs) should make an Express train to/from Phaya Thai a hit. I hope they can work out the logistics to make all the Express trains go to Phaya Thai.

One more minor, simple (I think), improvement would be to put markings on the Phaya Thai platform floor to align with the doors of the train. Currently, with no such markings, people span the entire length of the platform until the train arrives, then there is a mad scramble to line up with a door. If BTS figured it out, so can the ARL. It will keep people from being directly in front of the opening door, blocking egress from the train, as well.

A less simple change would be to add escalators going DOWN from the Phaya Thai platform, to assist those with luggage.