DonniePeverley

Thanks for the feedback guys. We are going through a major agent in Bangkok, probably the biggest. How would that afford me some protection ? Obviously this is a considerable amount, hence i am not going to just 'walk away' with it approach many suggest historically. Intrigued by the 'jointly signed condition report' - i will look into this. It's a brand new condo and has never been lived in before, despite being 3 years old.

WOnder what recent relaxation for a certain substance is causing this epidemic in violence amongst the Thai people ?

So my latest research findings on the pesky issue - 1) There appears to be less rats around the main Sukhumvit artery of Nana and Asok. Mainly due to there being many more people / tourists around at night. Silom at night is deserted so the rats have made it their domain. 2) Optimum time for these humungous rats to appear is around 1am when there will be a lack of foot fall around. Post 1am on deserted roads with adequate rubbish around is prime rat time. 3) Clearly they are attracted and motivated to attack the large rubbish that is left outside by shops. 7/11 on the main roads are now putting their rubbish into containers which should help, as the rats can't get in them. But local restaurants continue to just throw their black bin bags outside their store which naturally is a huge draw for these flea ridden horrors. 4) They are obviously coming from the sewers that have been built to drain the water. Attempts made to put some sort of lining cover over the holes have been pointless, as the rats have just eaten through them, or made their own holes. 5) They are not afraid. Once upon a time they would scarter at hearing human feet, now they will not move and continue to tuck into the waste that's been left in the black bags. 6) Their sizes now continue to grow from last year. Some are now on par with cats. No cat is going to attack them, so with no natural predator they continue to grow with freedom. 7) One way to stop this horrific infestation would be to work on a new rubbish collection system.

Most have been banned. So whilst tourism comes to see the delight and culture of street food, the local governance want to emulate Singapore and for people to worship the cracked dangerous pavements.

Not sure if it's a national holiday in these middle eastern countries - but the level of tourists from the middle east in lower Sukhumvit area is something like i've never seen before. Just a massive volume of them. In all of the unlikeliest places - just a stones throw from Nana Plaza and the red light district, that is the place they've decided to descend on ! They do no harm, but they have definately priced up everything in that area however. Massage shops in particular are packed to the rim with them, so prices go up naturally. More worryingly though, the Chinese tour coaches are creeping back too.

Quick question for you guys - so we are renting a considerable condo in Bangkok. We will have it for 2 years, rent approx 80,000 Baht a month. Landlord wants 2 months deposit, and 1 month rent upfront. I am curious as to how i know the Landlord will return my deposit. He is from China (not that it matters, just stating he is not Thai). Anything i can do to protect myself or any general advice on the matter ? I have not signed any contract yet.

Coming from certain cultures, i believe they don't understand the concept of a tip. If you explain to them - that you not only pay for the thing you have bought, but then pay a little bit extra afterwards they look at you like you just told them osmosis is the movement of particles from a high concentration to a low concentration through a semi permeable membrane. On the other spectrum tipping is just out of control over in America. Just ridiculous.

I do feel for some of these massage girls, especially around walking street. Massage after massage - and certain groups you just know aren't going to give them a single tip. I will always tip a massage, even though i am against the principle of tipping automatically.

I am absolutely confused to the high hells on what to do here. So we are in Thailand. We arrived on visa exemption. Our child enrolled into a senior school here, she's 13. The school has said her getting an education visa is not an issue. They have said it may well be tricky for me or my partner. We do not have bank accounts here in Thailand. During covid, my partner was granted an O visa, and my daughter an Education visa. But we did that whilst in the UK, anticipating joining the school in Thailand. In the end because of covid we didn't even travel ! So will my child be easily granted an education visa? Furthermore, is it for single entry ?! Or is he allowed to leave the country and then return ? I ask, because we have a wedding back in the UK and plan to return back for Christmas to be with family. So what do me and my partner do? None of us have issues with taking the odd flight out of the country (eg Singapore, Malaysia) every month (infact we would love to!). Can we keep doing this indefinately or will we eventually be stopped ? Furthermore i was thinking should i just apply to the UK high commission like we did before to an education visa and O visa? Or would that mean that we would need to travel from the UK for it to be valid, eg do they ask to see tickets as part of the application?! What other options are open to me? We are not over 50, and we have no bank account in Thailand ! I am utterly lost as you may well gather by ramblings ! Any help would be welcome.

Ideally i would have liked it a little set back, away from the traffic congestion and fumes. Do you see luxury condos on highways in the USA or UK ?

You confuse standard air pollution, and localised pollution. By localised pollution an example if you were standing next to someone smoking all day, or (in my case) walking along a pathway a few yards away from extreme car exhaust fumes. Am fully aware Bangkok is no Scandanavia for clean air, what i have not noticed is the extreme traffic pollution that in my opinion is now at the most extreme i've ever seen.

Exactly how i feel. We're all coughing our heads off. Yet here you have a luxury condo, built in this hot spot.

Come on now - there is levels of pollution, proximity to the pollution etc In this instance, the walkway is very close to the road, so you may as well place your nasal passageway directly over the car exhaust.

Long story short, we'd seen this perfect condo on Asok, Bangkok. Few minutes from the BTS and MRT. We were already to go, we arrive on the ground, and then it hits us - VEHICLE EXHAUST POLLUTION. Never in my life have i seen so many vehicles on Bangkok roads. Maybe coming from the UK, and seeing pollution massively cut, i've been climatised to things being 'cleaner'. My last few long stays in Bangkok have been during covid where traffic was light. But no longer, oh boy no more. We got of the BTS and did the two minute walk up to the condo. Goodness sake, the volume of exhaust fume just hitting us made us ill. All of us have developed coughs these past few days. There's no escape from the pollution. Little side soi's all similarly packed with cars (and present you with the added bonus of accident risk). Yet we have viewed one of the most luxurious condos we've seen. When you are indoors you feel worlds away from the disgusting pollution a few yards away. We love it. But my goodness it's built on a main road. The pollution is just horrific. Why are condos in Bangkok built like this, surely it's better to build luxury in a nice neighbourhood, not next to heavy traffic ?! Anyone have thoughts on this whole subject ?!

Top tier Chinese tourists don't want to come to Thailand. They yearn to travel to Europe, USA, etc

On the ground at the moment Bangkok is absolutely rammed. Never seen so many tourists around before. Vast majority from India and the Arabian sub continent.

What is the other parent meant to do ?

I won't be returning specifically for the visa. But if i was to return home, and my child had an education visa. Could i then obtain the O visa here in the UK ?

Thanks guys ... Is it possible if my child then gets an education visa in Thailand, enrolls in the school. Could i then possibly return back to the UK, and apply for an O visa ?

Hello all, hope you can help. We entered Thailand on visa exemption (i believe that's what it is). We hold British passports. We are now enrolling our three children into school. Is it correct in believing they will be able to get an education visa? The issue then lies in what option is there then for us as parents whilst in Thailand with our children? Ideally should have done this before we left, but we hadn't officially joined any school before we left, so didn't have the documents. Any help appreciated.

Will it still be "no meter" - 3 Billion baht sir.

If you want to make payments from tourists - surely monies could be raised without the rip off illegality stance ? The knock back effect to the countries reputation is it is seem as constant rip offy.

Why is it so difficult for Thailand to sort of the issue the country has with Taxis and tourism? It's such an awful presentation to the world.

I am just curious as to whether there have been any scientific tests on the rats the come out at Silom at night. The size of them, lack of fear, jumping velocity, don't remind me of any rat i have seen in the world over. I understand them being well fed with the rubbish just thrown on the streets at night for the bin collection. Rubbish isn't put into any containers, so the rats have easy access to the black bags. Lack of predators with low tourists numbers in the Silom area (as opposed to be pre pandemic) mean they are barely disturbed. Thoughts ?

The size of the rats walking around Silom were like a cat. It doesn't help rubbish is just thrown onto the streets for the nightly bin collection. You'd think they'd have some form of container, than just throwing black bags out.