ballbreaker

Does the newest VIOS still have that annoying center-mounted/angled instrument panel?

I think it does but like anything new it takes time to adjust the senses. I found it annoying as first but now pay it no mind.

I would stay in hotel or short term apartment until you have a lay of the land. Nothing worse then renting without seeing the area where you will be located.

Your very subject is one of the reasons I moved down to Bangkok.

Battery in my Vios had 4 years on it when I decided to replace because I didn't think it was turning the starter motor as fast. New battery proved I was right but I still think it was good for one more year but why take a chance.

I use BUPA Thailand for one year policy thats 4K baht a year.

BUPA Thailand is also a source for insurance.

If you do a search on this forum you should also find other companies that provide insurance.

Currently drive one that I purchased new 5 years ago. I have the S model and since owning have not encountered any problems. For a small car I think its great.

I could be mistaken but think open till noon on Saturday and closed on Sunday.

That one alert Thai and vehicle owner were able to provide necessary information so BiB could take credit for bust.

Roygsd has hit the nail on the head with his response and I believe GungaDin's answer is the only one you should consider (say no and find out what GF really thinks of you).

Don't be like a friend of mine who funded the construction and stocking of small convenience store for family of his wife. All was going well with plenty of business but the family was spending all the money made on themselves instead of re-stocking store. When stock was almost depleted guess who they asked for money.

As far as rubber trees in Udon area the answer is yes. It takes 7 years or so before you can tap the trees for collecting rubber and production will be slow the first few years as it slowly ramps up in production. Trees will be 15-20 years old before they reach peak production and then start to ramp down. Replacement of trees usually happens at 25 years or so. The money you can make from a rai of rubber trees will depend on demand. As the price of oil goes up the demand for natural rubber increases.

Why would you want one. Every Malaysian I have talked to say they are junk and only buy because they are cheap.

So the question here today is? Will the pension letter be an issue with the old passport number? And/or the departure card?

My guess is nothing to worry about as when I go to renew they will look to my canceled passport for the original Visa anyway.

Do one of the long time experts have any comments? Or anyone that has had a similar experience?

Thanks in advance

My concern would be the early issue of pension letter. I don't think they like documents that do not have recent issue dates.

On departure card just get some white out and delete. I for one never complete any part of departure card until ready to clear immigration prior to flight out and have never had problem with renewal of visa when blank.

Perhaps they travel to Thailand and never leave.

Hi guys

thanks for the advice

but back to the original question...?

If you can't find what your looking for in one of the pharmacies on Sukhumvit all by yourself then go back home.

I am selling a vehicle which was registered to me in another province to a buyer, who is also a foreigner.

Today I obtained transfer of ownership and power of attorney forms from the local vehicle licensing place. I have been "informed" that I also need a confirmation of address from immigration as well as a signed copy of my passport.

Q1. Is this required?

However, in common with a lot of people, when I moved I didn't reregister the vehicle at the new address(es).

Q2. If I need the confirmation from Immigration, is it going to be a problem because my current address and the registered address of the vehicle are different?

After the sale, if the new owner doesn't bother to transfer to his name/address then am I heading for a problem? Will he have any problems?

Q1.....Yes, confirmation of address and signed copy of passport are required.

Q2.....No sure about change of address from that in registration book.

You could have problems if new owner fails to transfer ownership and gets involved in a serious accident, then flees, I'm afraid authorities would be looking for registered owner.

I'd like to backup some DVDs onto my media PC, but i've been thinking that most DVD ripping software out there just don't seem to work....What do you guys suggest using?

(I'm looking for something simple; put in a dvd click a button and end up with a dvix/xvid file)

ImTOO DVD Ripper

Some people shouldnt be let in the country - they are so bloody hapless and witless it beggars belief.

Come on people - how freakin hard is it to get a taxi yourself? You can't spit in Bangkok without hitting four cabs. It's the perfect buyer's market and yet people STILL manage to be made fools of.

Could not agree more.

Your friend can not be a well seasoned traveler or he would not have been ripped off after already cutting the deal.

You are not driving legally if you have only your US licence and do not have an IDP (International Driving Permit). The Boys in Brown really don't care, but your insurance may use your lack of a licence as an excuse to refuse to cough up

Luckily it's a piece of cake to get a local licence if you have a work permit, check out the pinned thread at the top of this forum.

Without an IDP you will need to do a driving and written test, but neither is particularly onerous and can be conducted in English.

that wasn't required in Pattaya when i got my license last year.

Thanks for the replies. I already posted on the pinned thread as well. After reading numerous pages it seems like different people have had different experiences. I will follow up with the local office here (I live in issan). You are right that the "boys in brown" really don't care especially up in the sticks! I have been pulled over twice in the last year for "speeding" and did not even receive a warning let alone a ticket, just a smile and a nod. My concern is an unavoidable accident so yes, I do want t be legal. Thanks again! mizzi

You might also want to renew your statside license through the mail if your state allows. I know California does because I renewed through the mail. You should be able to check web site for your state under DMV if possible. Letting it expire will mean you have to retest for new license and might mean waiting period.

Also you cannot rent a car with Thai license in the US should you let your stateside license expire I've tried.

Am I missing something?

You say your retirement visa expires on the 19th of Sept. and your original plan was to apply for your extention on the 1st which I assume you mean September. The plan was to stay in the US for 1 month then return but that has now changed to 4 months with the return next February.

Provided I understand correctly, I see no problem with your orignal plan provided you also get a single or multi entry permit when you apply for your retirement visa renewal.

I do have plenty of time so at least I'm not rushed to make my final decision. A multiple I would get if i renew it in the first week of September. If I let it "expire" and then return, it is my understanding I can get an extension renewed upon return as long as I did it with at least 21 days remaining on the tourist visa of the first 30 day visa but I don't know the time you can be gone. Then the question is, will the new expiration date be 1 year from the "original" date or from the new date I applied? If it is the later, then I don't lose the 4 months I'm gone. How long I can stay away is probably up to the Immigration Officer I speak to unless some one knows for certain. I'm trying to place myself in a position where I have no pressure returning. In the end I may need to re-apply all over again. Some this hinges in part on a gravely ill relative, for which I will need to settle their estate and you can't set a time line for death. That's my situation so if anyone can add some words of wisdom it would help.

Thanks again.

Its my understanding that if you do not apply for extention of your current retirement visa and let it expire you will be starting the process all over with new dates. From my point of view this is a bad thing for one reason. What if they change the 800k (monthly 65k) to a higher amount at the first of next year. With a current retirement visa you most likely would be grandfathered in at the old requiement. I'm not saying this would happen but its something to think about.

She should maintain dual citizenship in my opinion.

Am I missing something?

You say your retirement visa expires on the 19th of Sept. and your original plan was to apply for your extention on the 1st which I assume you mean September. The plan was to stay in the US for 1 month then return but that has now changed to 4 months with the return next February.

Provided I understand correctly, I see no problem with your orignal plan provided you also get a single or multi entry permit when you apply for your retirement visa renewal.

Soi Cowboy has been there for thirty years. I don't go back that far but I do go back far enough to remember when Emporium was NOT there.

Way before my time, but have it on reliable information that the original cowboy bar was located there in early '70's. Maybe an urban myth who knows?

TH

Unless mistaken the Emporium use to be the Chokechai Building which was built around 1970.

I would have thought you signed some type of lease or rental agreement so everything is spelled out in black and white..

I know in my building the fridge comes with the room but they charge 500 baht a month for TV rental if you want one, I bought my own instead. Electricity is 5 baht a kw and typically I use around 315 kw a month. As for the aircon I guess I run the unit around 3 hours a day to cool 32 square meters.

My place gets morning sun till around 930am and is located on the second floor with apartments on either side. Because of its location my apartment never gets over 30 C on the hottest days. The people on the other side of the building suffer through long afternoon sun and high electric bills for cooling.

Next time use a little thought when looking for a rental.

I had to write mine again in March after having downloaded and printed out. I had even filled out the downloaded one by hand and the only difference I could see was they use a lighter weight paper than I used.

I would think twice about shipping anything other than items that have sentimental attachment.

If your still intent on shipping check with the Thai community in D.C. and find out if there are any Thai companies in the area that they use for import export.

Five years ago I did just what you are preparing to do and many of those items are still in boxes. I lived in LA area at the time and used a Thai company in N. Hollywood, which also had a Bangkok office, and they provided great service. They cleared the shippment through customs and delivered to our house up country for an extra $100. The box arrived at the house still in same condition as we last saw it in LA.

My wife did have to send her passport to shipping company office in Bangkok for use at customs in Bangkok.

The options are to ship a 4ft wide X 4ft deep X 8ft high box on a pallet (crates other than this size incur additional cost) or you can ship using a container.