samtam

Hong Kong's Chek Lap Kok is the best because it was so well thought out - transport to and from - with all the requisite infrastructure built before it opened, with airport check-in facilities in two downtown locations, which you can do well in advance of your scheduled filght, leaving only a 23 minute train ride direct to the terminal, (arriving on the same level as departures). Arrivals can leave on the same level for arrivals, for trains to the city. It is excellently and immaculately maintained. It has internal underground trains for the gates furtherest away from the main area....need I go on? All of this completed in 1997 (?), nearly 10 years before the mess that sits a swamp here, where all those bits may have been considered, but not considered important enough to incorporate. The reason for that is that those who run the country don't have to bother about these details, just as they will never walk on a pavement in Bangkok....

There must be something in your lease about being able to enjoy the premises to their full capacity, which a persistent leak would prevent. But, if you want to argue the point, and that follows its worst conclusion through the courts, then you'll be arguing about it for years. Consult your neighbours to mount a joint complaint to the landlord, or just fix it, and be done with it. This experience however is pretty evident of the type of treatment you'll get for any other problems.

No surprise here then. But Thais of whichever social standing aren't particularly bothered. The thing's built, the graft is paid, it sorta kinda works, mai pen rai. Next golden goose to line pockets.....

Originally I thought it was surprising that there's no pride in these things in Thailand, but it all comes down to those who can, getting their cut, those doing their labouring, getting their daily wage, and then life moves on.

There's only pride in one thing, and that's fine, except it does mask many other inadequacies.

The biggest problem with ebay here is shipping. Where is your market? Is delivery reliable without using courier services, and if your item is weighty, this effectively kills the potential sale.....unless I'm missing something.

I think you've slightly missed my point. I don't think you'll ever find me heaping praise on an airport. I travel too often for that. I'd rather be home with my wife and my little one.

What I did find though was it was painless. Won't deny at all there were teething problems due to the premature opening. But the place seems to work fine now...

I think that's right; it does now function adequately, with the inevitable hiccups that every facility experiences. It just looks like sh1t after only 10 months. In ten years....well probably time to build a new one by then.

Glad to read this post, as I saw the advert on a bill board on Sathorn Road and I wondered which building it was for. Having looked on their website, it provides you with no information about the condos etc, so I thought it was perhaps a new build. But then I realised that it's the old building identified by other posters. It is, where Lorin has suggested, the soi just before the Australian Embassy, and the one after The Metropolitan Hotel. I don't know whether Pacific Star are spending money upgrading, but these prices seem quite reasonable, compared with other albeit new condos in the vacinity. I live in the same area, and personally I like it very well. However the design of Sathorn Garden is not that pleasing - small windows - and unless you're on the south side, not much of a view. Interesting to see how it will fare.

After using the airport numerous times since its opening nearly 1 year ago I cannot say that I have experienced anything overly bad about the operation (function) of the facility, (check in, immigration, boarding). The main gripe remains that this hugely priced building (the structure and fabric) was never ready upon opening, and it has begun to deteriorate rapidly. Aesthetically it is a joke, (beach umbrellas above some immigration booths, inadequate filing, desks, storage at the same; badly placed shopping and food outlets; poorly maintained lavatories; non utilisation of travelator walkways because they are not switched on, to the furthest gate E10 for example; broken tiles, shoddy workmanship; inadequate airconditioning to name but a few, and all previously well catalogued by many. As we know it is not possible for these large building projects to be implemented in Thailand, (vide Paragon, Central World etc), where workmanship is of a poor standard, and durability will be short-lived; but even those are much much better than Suvarnabhumi. Anyway, people don't have high expectations of these things in Thailand, so it comes as no surprise; what is a surprise is when peoole claim it is beyond compare, superlative etc etc. Depends on what you are comparing it with really. The other obvious Asian comparisons are light years ahead, and were completed many years earlier, so there was a hugely missed opportunity to learn from these and to emulate.

Don't think this is new. I obtained my first retirement visa in March and had the overseas funds in place 3 months prior, as I knew then that was the requirement.

This one looks fairly nice...

http://www.1rai.com/Thailand-Real-Property...area_16505.aspx

It's only 2 bedroom - although I'm sure the agent could find you something similar with 3.

This is Bangkok Garden, soi 23? Narathiwat, (bit of a stretch calling it "New Sathorn Road"....but I see condos on the other side of Taksin Bridge are called Sathorn XYZ). Bangkok Garden do have three beds too, plus a mix of service and condos. It has great swimming pools/landscaping, although is a "medium range" property, but should fit pricing, I would think. Not near to BTS; nearest is Chong Nonsi, but getting there can be problematic when it's rush hour.

Not today in Bangkok using True

Yes, I live in Thailand and I use HSBC Hong Kong because I am familiar with it, and I believe international banking there is more efficient than anywhere else I have used. HSBC systems are by far and away the most advanced I have come across. Their rates in HK for GBP 1 month are 3.85% but I can get 6% AER from their Online Saver in UK, and about 5.1% in Jersey. There must be a greater GBP funding requirement in UK/Jersey to enable them to be more competitive, although of course they are the same bank.

HSBC in HK should fulfill all your requirements. There is no distinction between resident and non resident, (for tax purposes), and no witholding tax on interest earned. If you have an account with HSBC in Thailand it will be the simplest thing to open from here. But if not, you will probably have to go to HK to do it. Interest rates in HK for GBP & EUR are not as good as rates in those countries, but easy enough to open a Jersey Offshore account with HSBC on the back of your account at HSBC HK, and if you qualify for Premier banking transfers can be done online and are free.

Suvarnabhumi Airport...at the risk of stating the ble-ding obvious...

Try Lee Victor Furniture Co Ltd, 120/1-2 Soi Prasarnmitr, Sukhumvit 23. Tel: 0-2258 5785 0-2682 1774. They make great furniture and do a fantastic job with upholstery. They have fabric, but you can also buy your own and provide it to them, but make sure they tell you the correct amount of fabric required, dependent on bolt size (48"-54"), and whether there is a repeat in the pattern etc. If you're driving there it's the first right on soi 23, (by Giusto restaurant), and then the second left, and then it's on lhs about 100 metres along.

I had some neck/back problems at the beginning of last year and went to BNH Spine Centre. The doctor there was very keen to do surgery on me, but I am reluctant to do this unless completely necessary. (If you've had surgery before you may be quite keen on it.) I subsequently visited a professor at Bumrungrad, having had MRI etc. He said that my neck was OK, and that surgery was completely unnecessary. I had some physio treatment at Bumrungrad, and some extremely painful injections. Finally I gave up and went to see a chiroprator, who helped the problem. I also had accupuncture. My neck problem is ongoing but manageable, but I would still rather never use surgery, and I understand the BNH are quite keen to push this new facility, as it's a good money earner, (not a good reason to have surgery, in my book). So, whilst I haven't actually had the surgery, I would be wary of their recommendations, without getting another opinion.

I agree that flying nowadays (for me at least), is a complete hassle. For long distance I use business class, but even that is a pain. All of this is made worse by the tightened security measures, (vide those imposed in UK over the w/e, whereby you cannot be dropped off at the terminal). I used to fly to UK/Europe in the summer, but decided that it was when most others were doing the same, and the likelihood of delays seems greater. Not only that, I also agree that travelling in Europe is hideously expensive, (especially when compared to LOS), and the quality of hotels, service etc is laughable compared to Asia.

But the good news is that if we all stop flying so frequently we'll be reducing our carbon footprints.

Where in Bkk can u buy "Easy Off"? Do you know what brand?

Does anyone else also experience the problem of the onscreen programme listing not showing anything other than current programmes, thus making the reminder setting virtually useless? I've raised the issue with True a couple of times (about 5 months ago) and they said they were "working on it". It's even worse than it used to be.

Best to avoid any form of conversation with any taxi driver. Unless you like talking, otherwise, I prefer my drivers to be silent. Like the lambs.

my berry rai - don't know where you live, but doing the 90 day report is very easy in Bangkok. I did my first yesterday. Save time by downloading the form (TM.47) on this website and complete it. Go to Immigration - Suan Plu for me. Get a ticket number at the entrance counter. Waited 5 minutes to be called. Form stamped and out. Very easy and straightforward. Re-entry permit at Suan Plu also easy, though can take about 30-45 minutes. Again, download the form from this website. These things are really not complicated if you follow the rules, and have a bit of patience.

Seems to be a bit of confusion between katoey and gay, and an assumption that the two are the same. I'm not quite sure why gays should be fighting for katoey rights. But then again, I always think it's strange that "Gay Pride" parades for the most part involve men dressed as katoeys, or in leathers, or in something fanciful, and very often very far removed from what gay men wear.

I think it's obvious from all of this that having dogs causes a disturbance to whoever is living around them. The dogs may not be constant barkers, but barkers they are, and it is irritating if you have to put up with it. You may not think that the odd bark is offensive to your neighbours, but it is. And then mulitpy that by all the other owners whose dogs only "occasionally" bark, plus the other myriad noises in a large city.... but the reaction of the alleged episode is extrordinary, and little snippets about owning more than the allowed 3 dogs, (8) in LA is perhaps indicative of the fact that the OP is completely oblivious to others' feelings. By the same token, the supposedly noisy guesthouse is no bundle of joy by the sound of it either. Moving would seem to be the best option, but living by the gun usually means dying by it too; but if you're from LA, you'll know that well enough, so you'll feel completely at home!

Does this report refer to Business & First Class food? (I've never flown on Thai long distance, on B & FC, but when I do, it will be at the pointy end.)

Erwin, failing that try dignitas.com as I see you're sometimes in Belgium; I don't know the procedures there, but I would imagine healthcare is pretty good and sympathetic?

Erwin

I don't know about the stage of your cancer, or indeed whether you are in pain right now. This sounds crazy I know, but can you get yourself to a "healthfarm", (there may be a more apt description), at least a place that allows for a macrobiotic diet? I tried desparately to get my mother to follow this, but she was not so attuned to what is essentially an eastern philosophy, (Japanese). As to the availability of palliative care, I am not sure in Thailand, but certainly in UK, this works, although it is disguised in form, (the hospice system). I would imagine it's similar here. The initial drug of "choice" is morphine, properly prescribed. I hope that someone with med knowledge here can weigh in with advice, experience.