CRUNCHER

Ok this guy died because a condom of coke split inside him...

He knew the risks and the dangers....he made a choice and lost, full stop...no sympathy for him.

One person said that probably no one would have died from the product that he was carrying...well there was one to start with wasnt there? But to make a statement like this is just silly....how can anyone know that...Did the poster know that the drug was going to be used by experienced social users only...or is it naive of me to think that some of it could have gone to inexperienced users or that it wasnt going to be cut or mixed with a dangerous substance...or that the end user wasnt going to take other drugs with it.

Freedom of choice....unfortunately there is no freedom of choice for an addict, no matter what that person is addicted to. It is a physical need to have that substance at any cost. The trouble with most illicit drugs is that the need is all encompassing once addicted. Most addicts run up a habit that can cost hunreds of dollars if not thousands a day....they cant earn enough to support the habit so they commit crimes such as burglaries or dealing to get the money to support their habits. Now compare that with smoking and alcohol..and I agree that there are problems with them as well..but when was the last time you heard of anyone breaking into a house to steal things because they needed to buy a drink or a smoke compared with the times that people commit crimes to buy speed.

The posters who said that drinking has resulted in crimes such as rape etc...yes it has in some cases...but most times it is used as a mitigating factor not as the cause...and more often than not it is merely an attempt to lessen guilt. A rapist will rape whether he is drunk or not.

To the guy who said his son wouldnt be a drug taker....I hope not for your sake and other peoples sake...but the drug problem is not confined to people from problematic backgrounds...many drug users are from good families where love and affection was not in short supply...the problem is that some people see social use as being ok....Addicts are not born...addiction is an acquired habit...more often than not with its beginnings in social use or peer pressure. It is the people that say that social use is ok who are naive...many young people have died from using E on a night out, just using it socially.

Drug dealers do their jobs for different reasons...BUT...high level drug dealers are usually not users as users are not trustworthy...the lower end street dealers are usually in debt to the middle level of dealers and are looking to eradicate their debt by on selling and thereby affording their supplier with a certain amount of protection. Mules are the same...not every mule is a user...some are in it for the money only, same as every prostitute is not a sex addict.

I have seen what drugs such as speed, E, Coke, Heroin, etc..has done to people and not just the users but also those whose lives have been affected by what the users have done. It is not a nice picture, neither is the physical effect that these drugs have on the users...how debilitating it is, not just physically but mentally.

Well said, on behalf of the more sensible posters on this thread who like me are pissed off with the negative observations.

At last a post worth acknowledging and in my view, raising reasons why, along with the implications of drug trafficing and back on the route the O.P. was intended to go.

For all you people who admit to taking substances considered be academics, health experts and statisticians to be a scourge on society.

So long as you do it in private and it doesn,t effect the quality of life of others or is taken at a cost to society and what is considered anti social and restrictive on others, enjoy at your peril.

You can do it to your hearts content and one day suffer the consequences of your stupid, self inflicted actions.

That is your choice and again if it does not effect others continue until the day of reconing comes and you cannot control it.

You are a part of the problem make no mistake about it.

We all know the downside of drinking and smoking and the effects and yes they are addictive.

We also know the same relating to drugs.

I do NOT know many in my home town who effect life and freedom to move about without being threatened, robbed, mugged and all the other horrific crimes that take place to feed their drinking and tobacco smoking habits, in comparison they are very, very minor.

I do however know of everyday events caused by drug related issues and i also know most of the ordinary families that are affected by drugs and the knock on restrictions / penalties to their right to live safely in peace, both in their homes and out on the streets.

In my area in an attempt tp rehabilitate the addicts.

They came up with an idea to shift the druggies / thuggies as they are called locally to move them away from the areas where drug related crime and addiction was rife. ( Both are different issues but both are also related. )

Being addicted is to anything is not a crime and no one implicates it any different.

Taking measures to feed their habits ect. are, full stop.

Anyway..............................

They put them in a respectable / low key crime area with the hope of changing their life styles.

Much to the distress of the residents living in the area and most of the citizens of the town i might add.

2 years later you can probably guess what has happened.

That area is now practically destroyed with untold misery inflicted on the residents who built the area up, unable to sell and move away.

Yes, there is other crime everywhere as in all cities and towns but to compare other issues to the drug problem is unreal and irresponsible because all you are doing is failing to address the number one issue.

It starts with the very young by the way and not as someone said in the pubs ect.

The 10 to 24 age groups are now the most effected. YES 10 YEARS OLD

How very sad and distrurbing, don,t you think ? let,s take into account some of the freedom / my choice posters who are role models for these young children..............That,s reality.

It is happening in the schools where these scum are weaning them onto drugs and then once the start, are turning into addicts, who in turn are causing untold misery and harm to their families and society in general.

The suppliers are filth in local terminology and evil.

If you think it is wrong i would invite you to talk to the real victims of these obnoxious people and the circumstances of their MONEY motivated actions with not one iota of care about the outcome.

This is the sort of scum you appear to be supporting with your partaking of and in doing so subscribing to the " It,s o.k brigade and a right of a free society ", irrespective of the PROVEN CONSEQUENCES

marshbags no i,m and you are to think otherwise.

My O.P. was about this sort of issue and the implications / downside of trafficing.

For some reason it has been used as a platform for all the misguided users supporters of freedom to take what you like irrespective of the proven downside in all areas including crime related incidents.

I refuse to debate the rights to take drugs and as the O.P. reckon you should open a separate thread to do so and see how many of the 40,000 plus T.V. members support your views.

I know debate is about expressing various views but for me i have no desire to subscribe to the it,s my choice brigade and that,s my CHOICE by the way.

marshbags no i,m and you are : ( to think otherwise. )

P.S.

I will be very happy to respond to any comments regarding the Aussie and the rights and wrongs of TRAFFICING which after all was what the O.P. was posted for in the first place.

I refuse to be drawn further into your stupid irresponsible debate on the rights of consumption.

Read my posts for my views if you need further insight to my opinions.

If you agree with them o.k. if you don,t no problem, but i hope somewhere down the road you do not become low life filth, another tragic statistic and a scourge on a free society

Two excellent posts. They sum the situation up very well.

There are issues relating to tobacco and alcohol that need addressing. This thread is not the place. It deals with trafficking in illegal (hard) narcotics and the missery that this causes to addicts, their families and friends and, as set out by marshbags, the community at large.

i've never done drugs, but i'm an expert.

i've never gone to war, but i'm an expert.

oh, please. just shut the f-ck up

Ah well when one has run out of logic there is always obscenities.

War - know nothing about it.

Narcotics - dealt with the problem most of my working life. I seen the up close full frontal misery. Yes I'm an expert.

LET the families ect. personally effected by the abhorent crimes decide and maybe grant as the saying goes, " AN eye for an eye " if this is their wish.

DRUG CRIMINALS / smugglers deserve everthing that comes to them, don,t take my word for it ask the families that have / do / will suffer from this evil trade.

How the responsibility of the outcome of one's own act swaps to others is beyond me?

If I had a son and he dies because of taking drugs. I won't for one second blame anyone except myself(if he is still a kid) or he himself(if he is an adult).

As a father myself, the above statement is nonsense, as any father would tell you.

My son is 5, you think as a father you teach them from an early age what is right and wrong.

If my son, God forbid, got involved in drugs then of course I would blame myself. But I would find the piece of s#it who had supplied him, and the bigger piece of s#it that supplied that person and end their lives forthwith.

Thats not me being Mr Big, that is just reality and I think most fathers would agree with me

You are very close to endorsing the death for drug dealers policy that you and your fellow multiple posters so frequently condemn.I'm not trying to wind you up here nor to accuse you of hypocrisy, simply to remind you and the other obsessive anti-Thaksin posters that the war on drugs had many facets.It also had the support of most Thais, notwithstanding the innocents that were also killed.Thaksin was a greedy and foolish man, but his war on drugs had nothing to do with blood lust.It was an inept and half thought out attempt to deal with a terrible social problem.He, and let's admit it, thousands of others were trying to address the issue.

Not quite sure how Thaksin got into this - but then he gets into most things. I do comment on him one way or another, for a start I do not know the truth of a lot that is said. Suffice it to say that two wrongs do not make one right. Drug traffickers should be dealt with by the law, within the law and according to the law.

Some of this is rather sad. Obviously many of the posters have never seen drug addiction at it's worst. Well I have. Not, I might add, by taking drugs myself.

If you have seen anyone doing "cold turkey" through lack of heroin you do not want ot see it twice. I have seen it more than enough. It does not even come close to someone who gets a bit grumpy from giving up fags. If you have seen people whose bones are crumbling, whose noses collapse, whose teeth fall out through using this filth you would understand. What cigarettes or alcohol will do to you does not come close. And remember most narcotic abusers get this not all smokers do.

If you have seen addicts unable to work and so steal to finance their habit you would understand. They usually start stealing from family and friends first and then go farther afield. Needless to say many end up in prison - not for drug offences, but for stealing and the like. If you have seen the wives and children whose husband/father is an addict who steal to support themselves when husband/father cannot work because he is an addict you would understand.

I have seen this over many years and I understand. If you thing that an occassional puff or the odd pill is what this is about you better come into the real world. For a start most hard core addicts start like that. Drug pushers have all the sales pitches. Two or three doses of heroin or crack and your hooked and then your self choice is gone - usually for good.

Yes addicts are victims - and so are their families.

An earlier poster referred to me as seeing thing in black and white. Most things, in fact just about everything else, I see in many shades of grey. This, however, I see as black and white. Sorry - I've seen a lot of life around this world. My experiences have conditioned me. I cannot conceive of very much that is more evil that drug trafficking in a way, shape or form. When you have seen some thing that I have your views will change - if you have a heart that is.

I cannot relate to some of the remarks made excusing these low lifes

( also categorised as filth where i come from by the way. )

e.g.

Anyone who,s actions undermine the quality of life, cause injury, misery and death by their selfish, stupid and also in many cases show evil disregard for life, are repugnent and should be treated as filth...dirt..of no use to the clean side of society. ( not as in drug free by the way )

There are several posts with a similar content but i,ll re. quote the first one i read

Quote:-

QUOTE(atlastaname @ 2007-01-04 20:37:11)

Maybe people in general are a little too quick to jump on others who maybe have less fortunate lives than themselves. Money certainly comes into it , but not neccessarily greed. I would imagine those desperate enough to smuggle would use up the money they gain from the smuggling quite quickly, as opposed to greed which suggests they don't need the money but are committing a crime in order to bolster their already bulging bank accounts.

In general peopole are also rather quick to condemn others whose lifestyle doesn't match their own. If people choose to use drugs why not lewt them , they know the risks. The way i see it is here we have another , young , life cut short because someone was forced to swallow something deadly in order to try and beat the authorities, who are always battling against something they will never win. You will never stop drug takers, drug smuggling , in the same way you will never stop smoking , drinking, under age smoking , under age drinking , under age drug taking , under age sex , the list is endless. So thousands of people die a year , not just from taking part in illegal activities (maybe some should not be illegal ?) but also from trying to evade capture from authorities fighting a battle they can never win. Very sad isn't it ?

Unquote.

How the F*** can anyone justify these evil individuals who traffic in DEATH and untold MISERY because of what you observe, is beyond civilised thinking.

You are at best misguided, living in a fantasy world, and consequently, far from reality by trivialising it all and saying it,s o.k. if you need funds / desperate, Ect. Ect. Ect. = B******T B******T B******T

Please, do us a favour, we are far from being no brainers and idiots.

Perhaps you can tell us what would have happened had they managed to get this " filth ", as I can also define it, into Brisbane and out onto the streets.

I shouldn,t need to spell it out for you, how sad that the quality of life doesn,t seem to be your main concern and all the untold misery it would cause.

" They all deserve the maximum penalty according to the laws of the country they are caught in or perhaps sent back to where it started from, should laws / do gooders prevent just punishment and accountability for their actions, equal to the consequences of them being undetected and able to get it out onto the streets. "

Remember the majority are not ADDICTS but just Greedy Selfish people who in most cases are fully aware of the distress and misery it causes and all the other implications of their actions.

Out of consideration for time i will not carry on listing the downside of muling / drug smuggling ect. ect. ect.

THERE ARE NO CIRCUMSTANCES WHAT SO EVER TO JUSTIFY / EXCUSE, MATURE, EDUCATED PEOPLE WHO EITHER CARRY THESE ACTIONS OUT OR USE AND EXPLOIT THE UNEDUCATED / IMMATURE TO DO THE FILTHY WORK FOR THEM.

marshbags and

Thanks Marshbags. You and I have similar thoughts. I had decided not to make a further reply on the basis that it is pointless trying to explain to anyone who can even consider justifying this sort of evil to quote make a quick buck unquote. But I felt that I had to support your views.

One way or another throughout my life I have seen first hand the misery of drug addiction. And misery is really an understatement. It destroys not only the lives of the addicts, but their families and sometimes friends as well.

Yeh it is true you cannot stop drug addiction, but then you can't stop murder, rape or arson either. Does that justify these crimes? Should the authorities look the other way in case harm comes to muderers rapists and arsonists? If I had to choose whether a murderer, a rapist, an arsonist or a drug tgrafficker goes to the gallows the drug trafficker would get my vote everytime. (This is not an argument about capital punishment rather a way of prioritizing evil)

Yeh I have made a few wrong turns in my life, but I have never sunk to these depths.

One thing this mans death has achieved is to prevent at least a little misery from getting onto the streets of Brisbane. Who knows it might even deter a few others,

Ladyboy Fingered as Early Morning Pickpocket.

At around 5:00am on Thursday morning Mr Ali Sader-ah-he-Moni, a 31-year-old Iranian tourist, was walking along Beach Road in the region of Soi 12, when he claims he was approached by a 21-year-old ladyboy who offered her sexual services for the princely sum of 1,000 baht.

The Iranian decided this was an offer worthy of further investigation and the pair sauntered onto the sand to consummate their new-found relationship. Sadly, this lightning-fast relationship ended in tears as the ladyboy ran off into the night having managed to get her hands on the Iranian’s monetary wad which consisted of 5,000 Iranian dollars, 100 US dollars and 18 baht.

The aggrieved Iranian called for help from the tourist police and under the direction of Colonel Wootishart the ladyboy was soon apprehended. At the Soi 9 police station the ladyboy claimed the Iranian had tried to avoid paying for her specialized services. Police have made a report and the case will now go to court to determine the truth of the matter.

SOURCE: Pattaya City News

I presume the title was a freudian slip?

Maybe people in general are a little too quick to jump on others who maybe have less fortunate lives than themselves. Money certainly comes into it , but not neccessarily greed. I would imagine those desperate enough to smuggle would use up the money they gain from the smuggling quite quickly, as opposed to greed which suggests they don't need the money but are committing a crime in order to bolster their already bulging bank accounts.

In general peopole are also rather quick to condemn others whose lifestyle doesn't match their own. If people choose to use drugs why not lewt them , they know the risks. The way i see it is here we have another , young , life cut short because someone was forced to swallow something deadly in order to try and beat the authorities, who are always battling against something they will never win. You will never stop drug takers, drug smuggling , in the same way you will never stop smoking , drinking, under age smoking , under age drinking , under age drug taking , under age sex , the list is endless. So thousands of people die a year , not just from taking part in illegal activities (maybe some should not be illegal ?) but also from trying to evade capture from authorities fighting a battle they can never win. Very sad isn't it ?

Sorry. Can't agree. He was carrying filth to destroy the lives of others for money. He got what he deserved. Shame his female companion will be allowed to live.

I expect you would like to be her executioner .!!

You say he carried filth to destroy the lives of others . Probably no-one would have died from his cargo, but one thing is for sure . One young life is gone in trying to evade capture from the authorities. Wonder who kills most people a year , the authorities or the drug dealers? Still as long as the authorities can go on tv saying they are winning the war on drugs (not true of course but that doesn't matter) , i'm sure you don't mind how many young lives are killed by those very authorities.

Simple answer. Drug Dealers by a long way. In addition they cause untold misery from people who are adicted and their families and friend. You make it sound like the fault of the authoities for not allowing import of this filth.

Maybe people in general are a little too quick to jump on others who maybe have less fortunate lives than themselves. Money certainly comes into it , but not neccessarily greed. I would imagine those desperate enough to smuggle would use up the money they gain from the smuggling quite quickly, as opposed to greed which suggests they don't need the money but are committing a crime in order to bolster their already bulging bank accounts.

In general peopole are also rather quick to condemn others whose lifestyle doesn't match their own. If people choose to use drugs why not lewt them , they know the risks. The way i see it is here we have another , young , life cut short because someone was forced to swallow something deadly in order to try and beat the authorities, who are always battling against something they will never win. You will never stop drug takers, drug smuggling , in the same way you will never stop smoking , drinking, under age smoking , under age drinking , under age drug taking , under age sex , the list is endless. So thousands of people die a year , not just from taking part in illegal activities (maybe some should not be illegal ?) but also from trying to evade capture from authorities fighting a battle they can never win. Very sad isn't it ?

Sorry. Can't agree. He was carrying filth to destroy the lives of others for money. He got what he deserved. Shame his female companion will be allowed to live.

can't i get another 10 day extension on the TV?

My understanding is one extension is all you get. But you should check to be sure.

hey lopburi, thanks for the directions...they were perfect...=)

and The Coder, you were wrong bout the 30 days being added to the end of the visa! they added 30 days starting today! which means i have to go back and pay another 1900 baht to get another extension before i leave on the 7th of feb.!

ah well, all in all, it was a good experience...things went smoother than i thought...thanks for all the help guys!

=)

err!! Not sure you can get another extension on a TV. better check You may need to do a visa run and get a 30 day visa exempt entry.

how did he manage to drive his car if his arm was blown off by a firework!!! doesn't make any sense.

From what I can make out, the accident losing his arm came AFTER the sad drink/driving incident!!!

The fact he is out celebrating the New Year after what had happens defies logic

Agreed. No shame, no heart.

just an update on this..the Norwegian man who caused the accident was celebrating new years eve in a bar about 200 metres from where the accident occurred ,when he lit a firework in his hand which blew his arm off at the shoulder !!.

i'll leave others to comment on this !

One is tempted to say "poetic justice", but that would not bring Mr Hassim back unfortunately. On the other hand (no need to pardon the pun) what an idiot -inside a bar playing with fireworks. I wont say he deserved it, but it is difficult to have a lot of sympathy for people who do idiotic thoings and get themselves hurt. Did anyone else get injured?

I live in Jomtien without a car close to the baht bus routes. Overall, not usually a major problem.

For shopping, there are baht bus taxis (overcharging) waiting at shopping malls such as Tesco and Carrefour.

However, I strongly feel the area needs a fleet of Bangkok style taxi meters. There are so many times when it would be convenient or even necessary to hail a cab. For example, for a medical appointment at Bangkok Pattaya hospital or to make a dinner reservation in a timely manner, or whenever you need to go somewhere off the main baht bus routes. The baht bus mafia is a scourge on Pattaya. Yes, indeed, why do so many expats and Thais feel the need to own cars and motos? Because they only have the baht bus mafia to handle their transport is why. A fleet of taxis on the streets would overall REDUCE the number of vehicles on the streets, or at the very least, slow the growth.

If it EVER happens that Bangkok style taxi meters are allowed in Pattaya, that will the day when there is a clear sign that mafia style corruption is really being addressed in Thailand. (Don't hold your breath!)

As long as I am dreaming, how about a skytrain type mass transit route from far out Jomtien to North Pattaya, close to the beach? Talk about reducing street traffic and pollution. Pattaya is now a major city but has the infrastructure of a village.

A simple way to start would be to allow the Bangkok taxies, who are down here waiting for a fare to the Airport or back to Bangkok, to pick up passengers using their meters. There would obviously be some problems such as drivers not knowing the area too well (maps might help) etc. But it would be useful to run a trial to guage demand.

Cynical old me feels that the baht bus drivers (who run the City) will not allow the authorities to do this.

To add to the debate, I arrived in Bangkok today from Hong Kong, and they went through my passport numbering and highlighting in fluorescent yellow all the stamps from October.

So far, I have

11 Oct - 9 Nov (marked 1)

13 Nov - 8 Dec (marked 2)

8 Dec - 6 Jan (they must have missed this one as they didn't mark it)

Todays visa 1 Jan - 30 Jan (marked 3)

By my rough calculation, the last stamp should only have been till the 20th or so.

More concerning was their insistence on seeing my boarding card stub before letting me off the plane gantry and into the airport. I spent a good 15 minutes faffing about before they let me through. No idea what the point of that was...

James

For some reason Thai Immigrstion require production of the boarding pass at the immigration entry desk. Some people dump their boarding passes during the flight. Possibly the process that you describe deal with people who have losted/dumped their bording passes. It would be helpful if airlines warned passengers of Thai Immigration before the flights take off in the country of origin.

Thais should not be allowed to drive!

I feel that several posters have unjustly misunderstood what M.M.T. was referring to.

In my post ( No.3 ) I quoted the following:-

" There are far to many Westerners driving under the influence.......

We all know better and i do not care where we are or what the locals do."

unquote

All that M.M.T. was doing was adding in a NON cynical way the additional observation post ( 4 )

Quote:-

" Thais should not be allowed to drive! "

Meaning Thai,s as well as Westerners shouldn,t be allowed to drive under the influence. If you read post No. 5 you will find what my comment about the " what locals do " in response to M.M.T.

His comment was therefore relevant and not out of order.

It would be nice if you could reread the posts and perhaps encourage M.M.T. to carry on with the thread as your commments were undeserved in my humble opinion.

Perhaps send him a Pm,d apology

Reagrding waiting for the facts as has been suggested, it would seem the O.P. is correct and even more disturbing details have now been posted on the incident.

I hope this maybe puts the comment in it,s intended context in reply to my previous post

Thanks and stay coolllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllll tonight, safe and happy.

marshbags

I think he actually admitted not reading OP properly. I respect a man who is big enough to admit a mistake.

Let us hope people of all races do not drink and drive - especially tonight.

Certainly stay cool and have a good time - safely.

If, for example, a guy comes to Thailand spends 30 days here and leaves - comes back after 10 days - stays 30 days and leaves - returns for another 30 days and leaves.

In 110 days he spends ninty in Thailand.

Question - can he make another visa exempt entry after 70 days or ninety days? In other words is it after you have done 90 days you have to be out for 90 days or is it in 180 day periond you can spend 90 days in Thailnad?

Mathmatics not a strong point in this thread!

In 100 days, he spends 90 in Thailand I believe is a total of 90 days in 6 months, so approx 183 days so would have to stay out for another 83 days before being allowed another visa exempt entry

It is my typing not my maths that is weak - too many thumbs. Meant to say he stays out for 10 days the second time. Issue is just the same though. As I understand they talk about 180 days not 6 months.

If, for example, a guy comes to Thailand spends 30 days here and leaves - comes back after 10 days - stays 30 days and leaves - returns for another 30 days and leaves.

In 110 days he spends ninty in Thailand.

Question - can he make another visa exempt entry after 70 days or ninety days? In other words is it after you have done 90 days you have to be out for 90 days or is it in 180 day periond you can spend 90 days in Thailnad?

Thais should not be allowed to drive!

A British man is killed in a traffic accident involving a Norwegian.......

Why did you make this totally irrelevent comment ?? .....this has nothing to do with Thai drivers...This comment could only be considered as immflammatory and very much below the standard of your usual posts MMT.

If I was a Mod....you would be issued with a caution notice.

Fully agree with you gburns. What a silly comment in a thread like this about a very serios matter. Deep sympathy to Mrs Hassim. A sad story.

Could this be in some way related to this situation

Massive ATM fraud in Pattaya

It probably is!

I would hope that Miss Penelope Pitstop gets her money back, but TIT and the Thai banks are not of the same standard as 1st world country banks.

I am setting myself a ceiling limit of money held in Thai banks at 500K THB.

Libby if I cant pay cash I cant afford it..I always say..

I read about these people who get robbed big ammonts of money..

Credit card rip offs and I ask myself How and Why..

First I keep my money in the Bank I have an ATM card..

Most TG;s call Farangs ATM but thats another story..

I refuse to own a credit card I do most of my business by Bank Transfers..

then you have a record of the transaction...

Never cary more than I need on person, in a nutshell Stupidity springs to mind....

Regular visitors here can open a Bank Acc get an ATM card transfer money before coming problem solved..

ps where are the new jokes or are you waiting for a big splash in the new year ???

Having an ATM card is no protection. I thought this was an ATM fraud.

Ok I have done my homework this time and some apologies are in order, the Kudu projects are not in fact condos. They are Nithi Bukom Moo Baan (Juristic Villages) not Nithi Bukom (Juristic) Condominiums.

However, here are some projects that I am absolutely certain are 'lateral condominiums'; Natural Place on Sukhumvit Soi 31,

Villa 49 on Sukhumvit 49, and that property on Narathiwat 24 whose name I still cant recall but is something like Flora Place. There are others too.

All of these share the same design features so as to comply with condominium building regulations. It seems that to be a condo in Thailand the whole development has to be built as a single structure.

This is why those properties I mentioned have a common theme in their designs. Their houses are linked by a common structure. In those examples they all have a central garden and swimming pool that is built as a floor raised above ground level, surrounded by the houses that are physically connected to that common space. Car parking and access to the homes are on the ground floor.

It obviously costs alot to build structures this way and when developers have other options (like offerring long leases) that allow for more flexible cheaper designs they will go for that route. Furthermore, in areas like Bangkok where land is expensive is makes more sense to build a high rise tower, and maximise sellable space.

PTE They are handled as Juristic Villages, Moo Baans, annual service fees are levied by the Juristic Management who also take care of the estate.

The case that I referred to was a long time ago and I am ready to accept that my memory is faulty. As I remember, however, the developer put down a massive concrete slab and built the houses on the slab calling them, as I said, “lateral condominiums”. I also seem to remember it required the Thai equivalent of an act of parliament to legalize the situation, but developers were told “never again”.

Point is you will need to be very careful. Developers in Thailand are very good at trying to find loopholes, but often less successful in actually finding them.

It does happen, but rarely. Those two developments that I mentioned are Juristic Condominiums. There are a few others in Bangkok, such as a development opposite Bangkok Garden on Narathiwas Soi 24 (whose name escapes me at the moment), all the houses are linked by a common garden with a swimming pool that is raised above ground level with parking underneath, not the best design actually but just another example to underline my point.

I have often wondered why more firms dont do this. I asked around and it seems that building regulations restrict the design and layout of the project, which eats into profitability, however in the current climate where there are fewer avenues open to developers that wish to cater to the farang market it is my guess that we could see more projects of this nature going forward.

PS Sorry about that link, it might be slow due to that earthquake in Taiwan, perhaps try the developer's site over at www.kuduthailand.com

I thought this was tried about 10 to 12 years ago. They were called "lateral condominiums" If I remember correctly this practice was banned. If it is such a good idea (and if workable it is) and legal I am surprised that this is not the norm - especially in places like Pattaya.

I have noticed white, light blue a few red baht buses plying their trade along Sukhumvit Road. I have used them for short trips, but can anyone tell me the extent of their routes please? Also what about fares?

Thanks.

Thought I would push this back to the top because I admit I would be interested to the baht bus situation on Sukhumwit. I expected one or two answers. I have used the white one for varing distances between roughly Theprassit and North Road. Paid 5 or 10 baht depending on distance and had no complaints from drivers.

I would be interested to know how far beyond either Theprassit and North Road they operate. I do not know anything about blue or red buses. Anyone any ideas?

Try reading the press.

Thanks bub, but as of last reading it seems they have reversed the measure on the stock market segment only. My bank still claims it will withhold 30%. Try posting something of use next time.

So far I did not find any official articles who said U turn for Property withholding tax ....

so still looking for answer as well.

Tks

Just put below post on another thread. Does not answer you, but I think we will have to wait a few days for the air to clear

QUOTE(Dr. Naam @ 2006-12-21 14:11:03)

where are the moderators to stop misinformation?

I do not think there is misinformation. Problem is BOT is not be explicit enough.

http://www.bot.or.th/bothomepage/General/P.../Eng/n5149e.htm

This is the BOT original press release. Does not make it clear if it relates to property buying. (To me that is not short term, but others do not see it my way) No mention of US$ 20,000 limit.

http://www.bot.or.th/bothomepage/General/N.../Relaxation.pdf

is the latest BOT release. Property is not mentioned. So, if it was included in the first place, it still is. Most press comments are speculation, some obviously ill informed..

Confused? Me too. And so is BOT!! Until BOT gets it's act together there will continue to be confusion.

For those still concerned about the tax on property transfers. From the Nation:

"Meanwhile, the Bank of Thailand also issued an announcement on their website on December 21 stating that property including land and condominiums is exempt from the reserve requirement on short-term capital inflows.

Foreign purchasers of condominiums can bring funds into Thailand to purchase condominium property. According to a major local bank, foreign condominium purchasers should clearly state the project name and unit number when remitting funds. "

http://nationmultimedia.com/2006/12/22/bus...ss_30022204.php

I know I am thick so could someone tell me where it is on BOT website. I cannot find it

http://www.bot.or.th/bothomepage/General/P.../Eng/n5249e.htm

At last it is official. Thanks Wehkin

Does anyone know if they have a branch in Bangkok?

Thanks,

G

Yes quite a few I believe. There is a small one on Rama IV near the Silom Robinsons. Although it is small if they have not got what you want in stock they can usually get it within 24 hours What is more prices are cheaper than Pattaya. Don't know why - this is a nationwide franchised chain, but there it is.

Unfortunately their website is in THai, but if you can get someone to help you read it you may learn something.

Try reading the press.

Thanks bub, but as of last reading it seems they have reversed the measure on the stock market segment only. My bank still claims it will withhold 30%. Try posting something of use next time.

So far I did not find any official articles who said U turn for Property withholding tax ....

so still looking for answer as well.

Tks

Just put below post on another thread. Does not answer you, but I think we will have to wait a few days for the air to clear

QUOTE(Dr. Naam @ 2006-12-21 14:11:03)

where are the moderators to stop misinformation?

I do not think there is misinformation. Problem is BOT is not be explicit enough.

http://www.bot.or.th/bothomepage/General/P.../Eng/n5149e.htm

This is the BOT original press release. Does not make it clear if it relates to property buying. (To me that is not short term, but others do not see it my way) No mention of US$ 20,000 limit.

http://www.bot.or.th/bothomepage/General/N.../Relaxation.pdf

is the latest BOT release. Property is not mentioned. So, if it was included in the first place, it still is. Most press comments are speculation, some obviously ill informed..

Confused? Me too. And so is BOT!! Until BOT gets it's act together there will continue to be confusion.

For those still concerned about the tax on property transfers. From the Nation:

"Meanwhile, the Bank of Thailand also issued an announcement on their website on December 21 stating that property including land and condominiums is exempt from the reserve requirement on short-term capital inflows.

Foreign purchasers of condominiums can bring funds into Thailand to purchase condominium property. According to a major local bank, foreign condominium purchasers should clearly state the project name and unit number when remitting funds. "

http://nationmultimedia.com/2006/12/22/bus...ss_30022204.php

I know I am thick so could someone tell me where it is on BOT website. I cannot find it