TaoNow

Reply to Cardholder and Thomo:

- sex is free (but infrequent)

- no vitamins or prescription drugs. Occasionally an aspirin or cold tablet.

- I only have a few sets of clothes. They are intentionally durable (can last for years). When I do have to replace an item, the budget for that comes under the 'sundry/replacements' category I listed.

- my cell phone is a pay-as-you go plan with DTAC. I hardly make any calls. People call me or I communicate via the Internet.

- I did not list health insurance cost since my plan with AIA is one in which they will refund all my premium payments with interest over a period of ten years. So no net cost.

Even at 40 baht a meal, I find that the food quality in Phuket town is excellent. The ingredients are very fresh, especially the seafood. I have never gotten sick from eating at the places I regularly go to. And I have never gotten bored of the food. Thai cuisine is quite sophisticated and contains a wide variety of ingredients. You need to read the Cornucopia column of the Bangkok Post weekly Brunch magazine to understand this. Then you will learn that even the simplest Thai dishes have a complexity and nutritious value that is hard to find elsewhere in the world (for the small amount you pay).

Any other questions?

TN

OK Falkan, since you and I got hammered on the other thread for daring to suggest that one could have a comfortable life in Phuket for as little as 15,000 baht per month, here is the breakdown of my expenses in the first year I lived here (2009).

Let me preface this by saying I do not begrudge anyone else for living at a higher level of expenses. My point was that you can modulate your lifestyle in Phuket from "humble" to "jet-set" in a way that can't be done easily in other provinces. As long as it's a quality life then that's fine. My minimum criteria for a "quality" life is (1) you have a healthy lifestyle; and (2) you have regular social interaction with the locals on equal (unbought) terms.

The following is the approximate expenditure of a single, unattached male, age 60, with no dependents, no debts or financial obligations (other than that to Immo for the annual retirement extension).

Rent: 2,600 baht per month. I live in a one-room apartment (with private bathroom) on the top floor of an appartment building in central Phuket town. The room has a balcony that overlooks a quiet neighborhood and provides excellent views of the Western hills that separate Phuket town from Patong. Wonderful for sitting with coffee in the morning or a cold beer in the evening for sunset.

Utilities: The minimum is 100 baht for water and 100 baht for electricity, and I rarely go over the minimum. So 200 baht a month. Note that I only use a small fan, no A/C, no fridge. The only electrical device I use (other than fan) is a small pot to boil water and a reading lamp next to my bed.

Transportation: Since I am in no hurry, and Phuket is a fairly compact town, I walk to where I need to go during the week. This involves many kilometers a day of gentle exercise which is good for health maintenance, meeting people, and exploring new shops and restaurants that spring up throughout the year. On "weekends" (Fri-Sun) I rent a motorcycle to visit the beaches and explore other parts of the island. Since becoming familiar with the shop owner, he only charges me the preferred rate of 120 baht per day for the bike. Gas is about 140 baht for the three days. So that comes to (360+140, *4) about 2,000 baht a month.

Internet: I go to a local 24-hour internet cafe that charges me 9 baht per hour. I usually spend about 3 hours a day, checking e-mail, reading news, and pursuing on-line hobbies. About 1,000 baht per month.

Books: 300 baht a month.

Beach chair: 500 baht a month

Beer and coffee: 3,000 baht a month.

Meals: I stick to the places that sell dishes for 40 baht or less and have friendly staff. The best palces are ones in which the owner (or relative) prepares the food herself/himself. The daily cost is 40 baht *3 plus drinks/dessert makes that about 200 baht per day or 6,000 baht a month.

Sports activity: 400 baht a month

Sundry supplies and replacements: 500 baht a month.

This total comes to about 16,500 a month (or about $500 at today's exchange rate.)

Anyone can PM me for more details if they wish.

ScubaBuddha gives a very nice description of the variety of quality experiences you can have in this relatively small province.

After nearly two years here (and 30 years in other parts of Thailand) I am continually impressed by the diversity of shops, restaurants, and neighborhoods in Phuket.

Another surprise is how inexpensive it can be to live comfortably here. I can get along fine on 15,000 baht a month. If I want to splurge a bit, I can move it up to 20K baht. It's up to me how posh to live.

The selection of quality used books I think is better in Phuket than any other province in the country (except, perhaps, Bangkok).

If you enjoy a Thai seafood-based diet, there are fantastic choices of quality food at low prices (e.g., 40 baht or less per meal).

I strongly concur with SB's observation that many (2/3) of the residents in Phuket are from somewhere else, and are probably here to make some money and then leave.

Thus, there is little incentive for them to get to know the farang customers, most of whom are tourists and will only spend a few days or weeks here.

So, it takes a longer time to be recognized as a genuine local in Phuket and, therefore, someone worth getting to know.

This makes Phuket less outwardly friendly to the ex-pat than, say, a typical provincial town in the northeast. But once you become recognized as a bona fide resident then the locals open up and are quite friendly.

In sum, like few other provinces in Thailand, you can tailor your own life-style in Phuket: from hi-so yachting, and fine wine dining to simple living among million-dollar views.

Yes -- there are the scammers, the trash dumps, and rusting, abandoned housing projects. But, as said, if you know how to peer through the weeds, you'll see the orchids.

Thank you, Opalhort, for this trip report.

As stated before, these first-person accounts are the most valuable feature of the Forum.

What is noteworthy, as you point out, is that the passbook up-date and bank letter were dated one to two days before you submitted your extension application.

This differs from earlier reports that suggested that the passbook update and bank letter had to be dated on the same day that one appears at Immo/CW.

But your experience reflects a more reasonable approach by Immo and allows people to get there early and out quickly.

Thanks again.

TN

After a year and a half of living in a low-rent apartment in town near the Phuket provincial bus station, I had become compacent about the risk of a hold-up or theft.

But last night, a very quiet intruder picked the lock on my door (unbolted) and made off with my wallet and a pocket calendar in which I keep basic reference information such as account numbers, login names and passwords (all encrypted).

My wallet contained a few thousand baht cash, an ATM/debit card, my Phuket driver's license, a fitness club membership card, two health insurance cards (accident and in-patient), and assorted name cards and other items of no monetary value.

When I woke up at 6 a.m. I noticed the door to my room was standing open -- unusual since I lock it every night but, as said, don't usually bolt it.

I then did a quick inventory of my few possession and discovered the loss. After a few moments of Taoist reflection (a la my avatar) I had a cup of coffee and planned next steps.

1. I called the bank hotline number (around 6:15 a.m.) to cancel the ATM/debit card. I also verified that the balance was untouched from the day before when I last used the card.

2. Next, I assembled my passport, bank book, and photocopies of the plastic cards in my wallet. These items I keep under lock and key in an inconspicuous part of my one-room apartment.

3. Then I went to the nearest bank branch and processed a replacement ATM card. This took 15 minutes and cost 300 baht.

4. Now, at about 8:45, I went to the Office of Motor Vehcles ("khon song" in Thai) and waited in line for about 20 minutes before getting to the information desk. They informed me that I would need a police report of the loss -- note that this is required even if you lose your license accidentally. I would also need the residence certificate from Immo and photocopies of my passport photo and visa pages.

5. Next I went to Immo for the residence certificate. That took about five minutes and, thankfully, did not require the photocopy of my landlady's ID card. They used my 90-day report as a valid statement of residence.

6. Now, on to the Sam Gong police station to do the police report. Very fast: just 5 minutes and a processing fee of 10 baht.

7. Then it was back to Motor Vehicles with said documents (at about 10 a.m.). I waited about 20 minutes to be called, paid 105 baht for the processing fee, then waited to have my photo taken for the replacement license. That was quick (5 minutes) and another fee of 110 baht for the card.

8. So, by 10:30 I had the two key cards I needed to be viable.

9. Then I went to the local internet cafe, informed my insurance agent of the need for replacement cards, and began checking my on-line accounts for any suspicious activity. I didn't think the thief would be able to easily crack my encryption codes -- but better to change the passwords as a routine precaution anyway.

I was able to get from place to place quickly this morning through the use of motorcycle taxis -- remember, no license. And all the staff I encountered were friendly and helpful.

I report this just as a statement of how efficient and relatively inexpensive these simple -- but vital -- services are in Phuket. And as a reference to the process for anyone having to go through the same experience of replacing a lost or stolen wallet here.

I agree with you msg362.

The lack of interest or suggestions on how to help Bangkokians reflects on the profile of the average TV member: They are here to see what they can get out of Thailand -- not contribute to its (healthy) development.

Below are some suggestions I posted on the Bangkok community forum which, typically, didn't elicit any response. Posters just wanted to continue bashing local charities, foundations and NGos for mis-use of funds in the past.

As the culprit who started the earlier thread that morphed into an animated discussion of the pros and cons of different types of protective head gear -- I deserve a comment or two.

If I understand the post correctly, I am inclined to agree with 'classix': It's basically your own, individual risk calculation to wear a motorcycle helmet or not (or other protective gear).

I think I know what the risk is of a spill when I ride the 1,000 meters from my guest house room in Kata to the beach. So, as an experienced motorist in Thailand and Phuket, I think I should be allowed to decide what precautions to take for that short ride on a local road.

The same logic applies to ocean swimming and the current effort to police everyone out of the water when red flags are posted on the beach. By all means, warn people -- but let them decide whether to risk entering the ocean during the monsoon season.

The only argument for the helmet law (like the seatbelt laws in many Western countries) is that the cost of preventable injury adds to the general societal cost of unecessary medical care and, eventually, increased health insurance premiums for all.

But I don't think that is the primary consideration in this case.

For those of you that live in Thailand and care about the place, here are some things to consider doing to help reduce the negative impact of the recent events on the economy and tourism:

- Buy local products more. That is, forego the imported cheese, wine and corn flakes for a few weeks and buy local Thai products. (In fact, you may find out that they actually taste better than imports.)

- If you live or are visiting Bangkok, buy from small shops and service providers in the worst-affected areas. Help those vendors that sell local products to get back on their feet by purchasing a bit extra from them. If you buy more commodities than you need, then donate your surplus to a group that is helping the victims of the arson and other destruction.

- Take more vacation-like trips on the weekend. Go to the (once) popular foreign tourist destinations and pretend to be an international tourist. Yes -- this will cost you more than sitting at home, but you are reading this thread aren't you?

And, if you are reading this from outside of Thailand -- then consider making an unplanned trip here. I think you'll find that the hotels, restaurants, spas and resorts will treat you like royalty.

Happylarry: (Though you weren't asking me)

During a period over 40 years of living and working in Thailand, in the provinces and in Bangkok, I have never been required to pay a bribe to the Thai police for any service or in response to a threat by the police.

In almost all cases I have been treated respectfully by the Thai police and immigration officers in my interactions with them.

I may be one of the small minority of TV members who thinks that Thais are basically honest and do not approve of paying bribes -- especially to the police.

None of us ex-pats on this Forum should condone the paying of bribes to police officers, which is a violation of the law.

Regardless of whether OP deserved to have his extension application denied because of the Fund Book documentation, the other testimonies of graft at Samui immigration are evidence that this office is practicing extortion.

No other reports from TV members have described similar attempts to extract bribes from ex-pats seeking retirement extensions.

Therefore, paying bribes to Immo officers for retirement extensions is not common practice and should not be tolerated or allowed to spread.

Phetaroi: You are not reading the thread carefully.

Other TV members have come on this thread to say that Samui immigration arbitrarily asks some ex-pats for bribes to process routine extensions.

This is highly irregular, as we have not seen any report of this at any other IO in the country (to my knowledge).

I seriously doubt it was anything the OP said or did. He has repeatedly said he was polite and respectful.

The lawyer wasn't brought in until OP had been denied a routine extension. Again, this is out-of-line behavior for Thai immigration.

It could be that, being an island outpost and not situated in a provincial capital, the Samui IO staff feel safely enough removed from their supervisors to practice this extortion.

We need to know more about the circumstances of who they ask bribes from and on what (false) pretexts.

Then we need to see what action can be taken to stop this practice before it spreads to other IOs.

Sokal: I am having trouble reconciling this thread with a post of yours last year, as follows:

"Dude, do you have a self esteem ? If you are decent looking and young then you should not take any BS from girls epecially Thai girls. A young guy with money is the best of both worlds for Thai girls. You can have any Thai girl you want. I understand that you like her and everything but now you need to turn the game around. You should start ignoring her, ignore her until she contacts you, then you are the one being chased and thats the best way to have it with women.

Ignore her now, that's the only way to make her want you for more then just money."

Are you trolling?

Maestro, I disagree that this whole discussion is about the type of bank account of OP.

It has turned into a description of graft practices at Samui IO.

Up until this thread, I had never read on the Forum of anyone having to pay a bribe at any IO office for a retirement extension.

Yet other credible TV members are describing the bribe requirement -- including Lite Beer.

This is very troubling and is different from, say, paying a few hundred baht for a residence certificate for a vehicle license.

If this corrupt practice spreads to other IOs, simply because Samui gets away with it, then imagine what a cruel thing that would be to many ex-pats who have given up their homeland to retire here.

We need to find a way to oppose this degree of corruption without jeopardizing our ability to live here.

I visited Tha Bo a few years back after checking out Si Chiang Mai District in Nongkhai.

I was surprised how much friendlier and active Tha Bo was compared to Si Chiang Mai.

I found Si Chiang Mai to be depressing and hostile.

But Tha Bo, only 20 KMs away, was the opposite.

I couldn't understand why.

My only theory was that the former had a higher level of municipal corruption than the latter.

Good luck.

Regarding the suggestion that you should have the 800K in a "straight non-interest-bearing savings account" -- Lopburi3 pointed out at the beginning of this thread that every savings account in a local bank accrues interest.

So that is a bogus (and nonsensical) justification for refusing OP's extension application.

Another poster suggests that Samui IO are accepting bribes (e.g., 5,000 baht a pop). But the fact that the IO never gave you this option suggests that (lack of) a bribe was not the issue in your case.

Something is truly weird about OP's experience and this new Immo officer.

Hopefully, more Samui ex-pats will report on their interactions with this fellow, at least to determine if this is one person's grudge or a policy of the entire Samui Immo office.

I would like to join those other TV members who strongly oppose paying a bribe to an Immo official to obtain approval of the retirement extension.

For what it's worth, I listened to Abhisit's presentation today, and I think the Nation reporter (in the article above) got it slightly wrong.

I think Abhisit said "it is too late to wait until the 15th". He did not say 15 more days.

So this implies that the process is coming to a conclusion -- one way or another.

Indeed, this is a troubling post, in particular because OP's extensions had been approved using essentially the same documentation in previous years.

So, the suggestion that this is the policy of a newly-arrived chief of the Samui IO would be consistent with the different treatment OP experienced.

However, the idea that the new IO chief won't approve interest-bearing accounts would mean that almost every retiree on Samui using the 800K method would not be approved for their next extension application. Or that bribes are required for retirement extension -- which I've never seen reported on this Forum for any IO.

I think it is important for the Forum to get some sort of confirmation of what is going on in Samui since OP's experience is really out of line from what others have been reporting at other IOs.

Question for steelepulse and thai gerd: Can you provide more details on why Roxanne's Bar was "torched"?

I think this is on topic since (presumably) this watering hole is frequented mostly by ex-pats.

And torching bars is not a common event in Phuket. Was there a news report in PG on this?

TN

When I was at the CW Immo office last week, I asked the officer giving out queue numbers what happens if they can't service the queue number during regular hours.

She said they continue working into the evening until all that day's queue number recipients are serviced -- which sometimes requires them to stay until 7:30 p.m. There is no carry-over to the next day.

Pretty remarkable if true. (And also another reason to be particularly polite and respecful to the CW officers.)

So the relevant question (I neglected to ask) is what time they stop giving out queue numbers.

My experience last week was the opposite of OP's.

I first went to the SCB bank on Wireless Road to up-date my passbook and get the letter attesting to today's balance.

Because my 800K is in a fixed deposit account, there was no entry in the passbook since the last quarterly interest deposit (over a month ago).

I then went to Immo, arrived at 10:30 a.m., and got the queue number. My number came up at 2:30 p.m.

The Immo officer looked rather weary and stressed. I was quiet and respectful and laid out my documents on her desk: passport, extension form, photocopies of passport, bank passbook, photocopies of passbook, bank letter.

She quickly looked through each of the documents then asked me to sign the separate forms saying I understood the terms of the 800K provision. I then paid the 1,900 and waited about 15 minutes for the receipt.

Next, I was told to take my documents to the officer a few desks away. This senior Immo officer looked very carefully at the bank book, bank letter and passport pages.

There were no questions, no problems. She signed and I was outtathere.

This has been my (painless) experience in each of the past three years extension, with a different Immo officer each time. So, there must be more to OP's story than he is giving us.

As a general principle, you should always try to support local oil companies (if you live here) as that will serve your long-term interests.

Thus, unless you have no choice, fill up at PTT or Bang Chak stations.

I have never had a problem with service or pricing at these.

cdmtdm: could you explain how you were pulling people out the rips and to calmer water or to shore.

I am not questioning that this happened -- but I am curious how you managed this.

It is my understanding that the rips on the western beaches are quite strong, and it would be all a person could do to power swim out of the path of the rip -- let alone rescue others being pulled by a rip.

So, how did you manage it? Do you wear fins? Do you have a special technique for spotting the rips? What swim strokes and kicks do you use to swim with or out of a rip?

If the rips can be seen clearly -- as you state -- could you try to snap some photos or describe their appearance on Nai Harn.

I swim at Kata Noi throughout the Monsoon and have not encountered the conditions you describe -- though I realize the beaches all have their own unique character and different degrees of safety.

I agree this story is newsworthy if accurate as reported by Patong Bob.

But OP refuses to come back to his own thread and provide the details of what the actual criminal charges were.

We've heard something about an "unlit" parked vehicle, but that makes about as much sense as an unlit electricity pole.

If you could always claim six-figure damages by ramming your motorbike into a farang's parked vehicle, you can be sure there would be paid squads of kamikaze meth-addict cyclists crashing into them on a regular basis.

But that does not happen. So there is something essential missing from OP's tale.

The Forum needs to have some answers to the questions OP has raised before anyone should relay this story to others.

Until then, talking about it is just rumor-mongering and food for trolls.

For retirees, a switch of residence is not an easy matter, given the documentation requirements for, say, the 800,000 baht.

I spend most my time in a province in the southern region, and do my 90-day reports there.

But I renew my retirement extension in Bangkok where my 800K bank account is.

Also, the province of residence listed on my Thai driver's license (car) is Bangkok.

So, if they look at my 90-day report (which they haven't done in the past) they will see a different province of residence from whjat's on my extension application.

I think this is reasonable (that the two don't necessairly match) because some retirees travel around Thailand and may be staying in a hotel somewhere when the 90-day report is due.

We'll see in a few weeks when I renew. I'll report back here if there is trouble with my approach.

NamKangMan (aka IceMan?):

I don't get your rant either.

If you are an ex-pat living in Phuket, why are trying to live like a tourist?

If you are worried about fewer tourists coming here or spending less, why do you care?

Do you own some restaurant or bar here?

Let the gougers price themselves out of the market and be gone.

In 30 years here, have NEVER had a problem with Thai postal service -- wither domestic or international, regular or EMS, sending or receiving.

I send my income tax returns to the US by Thai EMS, and which allows you to track shipping progress by the Internet.

To top it off -- service is polite, efficient, and very user-friendly.

This was not the case when I once used Fed Ex (Bangkok) to send a document to the US at significantly higher cost that Thailand's EMS. Not friendly, not efficent, and not convenient.

Never again for Fed Ex.