JGV

If you have enough time say 2 or 3 weeks I suggest you go to Sattahip and look for the tailors there. They fit out the Thai Navy personnell and it will be alot cheaper than Pattaya and better quality.

John

I agree about those tailors with the touts on the streets - a bad experience every time. Those who stay in their shops and get on with the job are usually pretty good.

A couple of years ago, we needed some new clothes (copies) for an important occasion, and made it very clear that there was a strict deadline. Could he do it in time? We also wanted the stuff laundered and ironed and ready to wear. No problem! It didn't turn up like that. It was filthy and unironed. He suggested we could come back "tomorrow". But that was no use - as we'd told him - we needed the clothes for a particular event. The guy was a complete waste of space, and he is still to be seen daily hovering about outside his shop in Naklua trying to lure unwary tourists in.

Ist concert 1969 John Mayall at Guildford Civic Hall

Most memorable : difficult but Eric Calpton comeback tour at hammersmith odeon or Springsteen's River tour - I saw him 5 times - every one stuynning

In Thailand: Either of the above Clapton, Springsteen and 5 to add Stones, Corinne Bailey Rae, Elvis Costello, John Mayer and Jeff Beck

Real politque + Business interests = Dirty pool in S.E. Asia.

The key point here is that Hun Sen was a member of the Khmer Rouge and therefore I advise Abhisit to not get drawn into any verbals with someone who assisted in genocide

As for Thaksin Ignore him - eventually he will get old and die

JV

He is a convicted felon and as such should be in prison not airing his views on the rights and wrongs of the current govt

The issue of free speech is a red herring as people in prison have lost their freedom

Ry Cooder Jazz

I am all for a weekly or fortnightly meet

I live in Sattahip and don't know anyone after marriage finished

So let's have suggestions weekdays better than weekends for me

John

Anyone out there know where I can buy Pizza bases so I can add my own toppings and/or Marmite

Desperate Having withdrawal symtoms

JGV

With so many Japanese companies at Map Ta Phut is there a condominium and facilities for Japanese and/or Korean families in Ban Chang and Rayong or do they all commute from Pattaya. I would like to make contact if they reside in the 2 towns Anyone know anything.

JGV

The burocratic headaches in doing it yourself are enormous and should be avoided at first.

The most important factors:

1.Do you or people you know also know a Thai who has an educational degree who would be effectively the owner of enterprise. If yes he will clearly want a fee or percentage of profits.

2. Secondly in your town are there any other locations where English can be learned; either taught by Thais or non-Thais (include Filipino in this) If yes then it is likely if you are succesful your location will be passed onto Education dept and/or immigration iF NO READ BELOW

3. Start from home doing a few privates - charge no more than 50 Baht per student per hour' Less if there are no obvious middle classes in the town.

4. If this takes off after a year or so then maybe find a bigger location, take current students with you and do a good job. A good job,no competition for the cash and an education dept that prefer to be idle could be succesful but don't go into mass advertising - word of mouth is better.

OK

JGV

Are there any Japanese restaurants or bars in Ban Chang - have Japanese friend visiting - need to find alternative to Pattaya

JGV

I am in Sattahip

Now anyone interested in setting up occasional social get together. I tend to go to Pattaya to meet frinds but cost of petrol makes this a rare event - local makes sense

John

I heard about this refusal from a friend about Jomtien Office.

Who advised clearly that 3 month doesn't apply for subsequent requests?

And any chance of getting an official comment from the office itself. Without this it becomes farcicle as to try to guess where the goal posts are. I don't enjoy this notion that my security is in the lap of the gods or should it be fortune tellers.

JGV

Could you clarify the situation regarding money in the bank to get this retirement visa. I have obtained this visa now for 3 years and will renew again shortly. I read on this site some months back that the 3 month before date of visa request was only necessary for first request. Subsequent visa requests didn't stipulate this. Is this correct or not as a friend recently said that someone was turned down for a year visa as the account had dropped just below 800.000 three months before although on the day of request was back up to the 800,000 requirement. Obviously he had used some of the money for urgent expenses.

It is all rather confusing and irritating for those of us who have been here a long time and don't want to leave because of an admin change by the authorities. And also is this Credit Card to be shown happening in Pattaya - i understand that this idea was dropped.

Thanks

JGV

I live in Sattahip but on Ban Chang side. Recently divorced I now wish to meet some new folk

very isolated here

I know there is Pattaya but it seems so vast now plus the cost of petrol and the traffic means it will cost about 300 Bt in petrol before I get a beer

So think Ban Chang more accessible and cheaper to get to.

So where to go and who to meet

I am not looking for a bar girl just yet - more friends to play pool, have achat and a beer - low key stuff

I can't play golf

John

A few thoughts - shared interests help develop friendships and clearly Thais have different interests than farangs. There are exceptions I know. TV - what Thais like I find generally boring and limited and find it superficial. I know language understanding is also important but I have noticed that when mor complex plot movies dubbed in Thai are generally not of interest to Thais but when an action flick or comedy is on they are engaged. Also there is the sex thing - men have different interests than women. So as farang men marry Thai women this is again going to minimize shared interests. Having Thai friends is also a problem with social pressure. I started playing snooker with a That guy - initially it was great and then all of a sudden it stopped for no apparent reason - I now am ignored by this guy and I believe his own peer group got at him for mixing with farang. Strange!

Finally another example to ponder - my ex wife once told me that all I wanted to see ot listen to was English. So one day I put on music in the car from Africa,Cuba, Brazil all in another language. She still wasn't interested in listening preferring her Luk Thung - I feel due to a very nationalistic education system that many Thais are very parochial and not willing to open their experience to things that aren't Thai. Many farang are the same I know but both need to cross the aisle so to speak. My problem with Thai arts is that the standards are not good generally.

JV

With the increasing cost of petrol(gas) going to Pattaya to meet like folk and have some R&R is becoming more difficult for me and maybe others. I live in Sattahip and maybe those in my area might want to comment on some social meet or something - snooker or cards or eating out or an occasional beer in or near Sattahip.

What do you think?

Anyway my e mail is [email protected] for those wanting to post direct to me or otherwise comment here on ThaiVisa Thanks

JGV

Recently divorced (2 weeks ago)

Any amphur office will do but you must have both marriage certificates, your passport (No copies). and her I.D card and registration document.

There is one problem that I encountered. Before they printed out the divorce certificate there is a Thai form that must be completed regarding children and assets accrued whilst married and any settlement figure.

This can become very difficult for farangs who can't speak good Thai. The form is loaded in favour of the Thai and there seemed to be almost an expectation that the farang will give something to the Thai woman. They would not print none in all the columns even though there were no children in my case and no assets (land/car) etc. What happened was that the amphur staff refused to process the form and thus grant divorce until I offered a financial settlement which my wife agreed to. because of some problem I had to offer 2000 per month for 2 years.

My advice make sure your wife doesn't want a money settlement and then agree to a nominal amount of 200Baht a month or something like this with her in case the form appears.

Hope this helps

JGV

If you have a retirement visa and then get a job with a work permit what do you do about your visa

Thanks

JGV

Due to the huge number of people using the Pattay Immigration Office in Jomtien Is there an ofice in Rayong can process 1 year visa? If yes where is it?

Thanks

JGV

Where do you guys buy clothes that are say somewhat bigger than average - Waist 40 inches and chest large as well

Talking about T shirts, shorts andshirts - I guess trousers have to be tailored

Any help appreciate

I mean in Pattaya - don't want to trudge to Pratunam

JGV

The navy hospital 10 kms from Sattahip is called the Queen sirikit nd is a government hosptal with naval medical staff. The hospital is in the village of Plutualung.

It is much cheaper than Pattaya Hospital and having beeb admitted twice for cellulitis I can say the care is good. A private air con room with fridge and TV is about 1000 Bt a day. The nursing care is good but if you are in a private room they like a relative to stay with you which is possible. My wife slept on the couch. Food is avilable but again my wife bought from the local canteen which has excellent Thai food.

However it is limited for some very serious conditions. Open heart surgery and stroke related problems requiring surgery need relocated to Pattaya

OK Hope this helps

John

JGV

Not expensive the cost of doctor and nurse care

Simple There aren't any - in fact in Sattahip where I live there aren't any Thai newspapers either

Rayong has a weekly Thai paper I think

JGV

Generally I have found a number of people giving sound advice and thanks. Coming off a 12 year marriage that went to the rocks it is not easy to bounce up with bags of confidence like Mai Krap seems to think live is like. So wait until you have a problem.

I will try and focus on a few days away in Issan and maybe expat bars in Pattya for couples but meeting is not so easy here in Sattahip as many are shy and others require an introduction.

Keep advice coming

JGV

Currently there isn't ADSL so it's back to dial up which is slow or very slow

JGV

Thanks everyone for info Couple of question Issan is a very big area Where should I go first and Can anyone look after my dogs G Retrievers - a problem

JGV