jbaldwin

In an average year Flu kills about 12,000 people in the UK and Dengue Fever kills about 100 people in Thailand

When a Thai friend came to visit she dialed 1234 before a mobile number. When my bill arrived it looked like a had been charge about a third of the normal price. Can anyone explain what this service is?

Bouncing a cheque is a crime in Thailand. Go to the police.

Does anyone else find this difficult to believe? Would you still turn up for work if you had not been paid for 6 months?

In our Condo the price was increased from 25 baht to 30 baht early this year when Pattaya City Hall introduce an additional waste water charge, which is calculated on the basis of water usage. Our Condo Committee decided to pass this additional charge onto co-owners by increasing our charge for water

What does the lease arrangment say happens in these circumstances?

As an Englishman recommending a German restaurant you must believe me this place is good:

Bei Gerhard on Naklua Road next to Soi 33

Gerhard's has recently moved to Soi 16/2. A second recommendation for an Englishman

I have not heard to Unity. But I am also a member of a Condominium Committee in Pattaya that is currently considering a change in management company. I would be interest to discuss with anyone in a similar position.

Please PM is you wish discuss options

Although food inflation has fallen sharply, food prices are still substantually higher than last time Continental changed its price. According to government figures food price in Dec 08 were 1.5% lower than Nov 08 but 13.8% higher than Dec 07.

Lost in LOS - How much have Mati Hari prices gone up. I was going to take my mother when she visits next month. Is Bruno better value now?

Thai bank are required to report any cash transactions over 2,000,000 baht. I understand that about 300,000 reports are made each day but that the authorities devote little or no resources into assessing these reports.

If I read correctly offering savings rate plus 0.25% (ie 1.00% in total) on balances over 10,000 baht.

:jerk: Whoopee a whole 1% what will we do with it all.

Jbaldwin, not having a go at you, just the Thai Banks.

:D Just wait ... while I get my zimmer-frame !

And I agree about the banks, paying 1%, or even a couple of percent, when inflation is (officially) about 5%.

If fact offically inflation in the year to December was 0.4%. When high inflation is caused almost entirely by high oil price, inflation rate fall very quickly when oil prices go back down again

If I read correctly offering savings rate plus 0.25% (ie 1.00% in total) on balances over 10,000 baht.

I am booked on Air Asia Flight from Stanstead to KLIA in April. I was considering flying on Firefly to Ko Samui the following day.

Firefly fly from Subang Airport. What transport is available?

The airport was closed for a large part of November (I think that it reopened on 3 Dec). Nothing was airfrieghted out the the country. Not surprising that there was a big drop in reported exports. Expect a large rebound in December as a airport backlog is cleared.

Also the forecast the growth will fall to 2.8% next year does not means that the economy is expected to get worse. It means that the economy is expected to get better at a slower rate

My understanding is that the shopping centre will open in January 2009. Then construction of the hotel will continue and should be finished by the end of 2009.

I was told that 90% of retail space was let by the end of October ie 3 months before the scheduled opening

This is not an issue covered by condo law. However, the regulations of the condo should address the issue - Ask the manager for a copy.

The regulation of our condo do allow a "for sale" sign. The relevant regulation reads

"Any sign, symbol, advertising board or professional sign attached to a door, window, balcony and any other part of the outside of the building must be of an appropriate size and in a location so as not to disturb or create problems for other tennents".

Yes - Those eligible for the Committee are Co-owners, Spouses of Co-owners or if the Co-owner is a company -a representive of that company

At a general meeting what should happen is the the agenda should be sent to the company. The company can then appoint an individual (you) as the company's proxy at the meeting.

I think Moderators should pull these hearsay posts. I have no financial interest in the Waterfront and personally don't care if it is built or not, but unless people can substantiate their rumour-mongering posts, they should not post at all, as it can become a self-fulfilling prophecy, and may also end up as a lawsuit for economic damage and a libel action to boot.

One could post such rumours about EVERY current development in Pattaya right now (no buyers, too expensive, will never sell the Thai 51%, exchange rates killing them, raw materials prices, banks refusing credit, scared to lend to developers even to finish off, etc etc) , so why should a newbie poster single out The Waterfront for attention? It might be well-meaning but in these times it could also be misleading and dangerous.

Best to wait until there is something more concrete about specific developments than post Chinese whispers, in my opinion.

Just to say I completely agree with this view.

Posting "I have heard...." without giving any information about the source of the information is not helpfuk

It has always arrived the day after the request was processed. Problem is they will only act on instruction in writing. In my experience, on average an airmail letter to the UK takes 8 days to arrive - but maybe more now with Christmas post.

I have no detailed knowledge of other condos. However, I live in Thabali - on the road between Pattaya and Jomtien - behind Bruno's resaurant. What seems clear from friends that rent units here is that it is much easier to get long term tennents for the higher end units in the developement than lower end unit. For example, I have a friend that ownes a 106 sqm duplex unit which has been let without any voids for the last two years at 35,000 per month. Small studio unit have a higher rental yeild when let but seems to unoccupied for a greater proportion of the time.

forgive me if im wrong but i believe you live at Chateau dale....as this is the development behind Brunos,ive never heard of Thabali.....maybe you seen a sign that says thai bali as this is the style there

Thanks for the help on where I live. However, there are two spearate condo developments behind Bruno. Chateau Dale is the four highrise towers and which are around 15 years old. Thabali is the four six storey buildings at the front around the Oasis spa and the gardens and was finish 4-5 years ago.

I am 43. I retired when I was 37, when it was clear that my savings plus the proceeds of my house in London would get my enough to live in Thailand. I have an annual extention on investment grounds which means I have to keep 3,000,000 baht in a Thai bank account. This option was removed for new applicants two years ago but is still available for those already in the system.

I have no detailed knowledge of other condos. However, I live in Thabali - on the road between Pattaya and Jomtien - behind Bruno's resaurant. What seems clear from friends that rent units here is that it is much easier to get long term tennents for the higher end units in the developement than lower end unit. For example, I have a friend that ownes a 106 sqm duplex unit which has been let without any voids for the last two years at 35,000 per month. Small studio unit have a higher rental yeild when let but seems to unoccupied for a greater proportion of the time.

You say you signed a contract. Under what circumstances did not contract allow for a return of the deposit. Were these conditions met. If not cliam from your travel insurance. Cannot see why you beleive you have been ripped off

Maintenance work on transformers meant no power supplies 10am to 3pm today

You are not eligible for Visa exempt entry unless you have an air ticket out of Thailand. This has always been the case but historically had not generally been applied at land borders.