crocken

You can invest in shares......you can buy BBI shares,thats babcock and brown infrastructure.they increase about 10% a year and pay a 7% dividend so total return in 1 year is 17% you can buy these share thru the Australia ASX.via a broker or your internet bank.

I agree- nothing new here. They suckered you- because the savings of 13 baht and a few minutes waiting seemed an attractive offer.

Considering your previous escalator experience and need for clear signage, I'm surprised that you fell for their scam. I woulda thought that you would go inside and buy a ticket from the girl sitting under a great big sign!

I wish you guys would lay off with the "nothing new here" bs. Not all of us have lived in Thailand forever.

This is a very useful post and thanks to the OP for clearly indicating a scam that could very easily catch out many of us.

I agree with you tropo...a good warning for us newcomers.Thanks mate.

Just because you don't like something doesn't then mean that you are intolerant of those who do. I wonder why memebers assume this. If someone wants to give gifts/money whatever to their partner's family to flaunt in front of others, as some members have said they do, then that's up to them. If they feel that's the right way to do things because that's the way it's always been done then good for them. If they don't feel the need to question it or just accept it then good for them. But please don't assume I can't respect those who wish to do this even though I think it's vulgar and wouldn't do it myself. Giving is a good deed but giving for “FACE” is different and a worthless act because the motives are all wrong.

So I disagree and the “I love Thailand and all things Thai” brigade is out in force and anyone who says something to the contrary is intolerant and a Thai basher. Therefore certain replies to my post are of course predictable. When are people going to learn that disagreeing with someone or something doesn't mean one cannot accept it or their point of view?

You see their assumptions are way off the mark. Yes live and let live. Yes we all have viewpoints on different things. This is a forum about expressing them.

I don't agree with arranged marriages and the caste system .So, am I intolerant of Indian culture? Those who wish to go down that path can do so if they wish, it's up to them. People make choices which are right for them. I don't agree with sacrificing animals for some ritual/ custom. I don't agree with bullfighting. Is that not a Spanish custom? So you assume I hate Spanish people because they love it and I'm so intolerant of them? What about male and female circumcision? That's part of Muslim culture. If I disagree with that am I anti Muslim?

Sin Sod is a custom which I don't agree with. It happens to be a Thai custom. Some foreigners have been denied marriage because they wouldn't pay the asking price to their future wife's parents. Shouldn't the fact that they love one another be enough for the parents? How come money came into the equation? It seems yet another dated custom which is slowly dying out as many others have.

I have a friend who built a house for his partner in his village. It was done purely for the love of this guy and not to show off to the rest of the village. Whether it is seen by the Thais as face and something to show off is up to them but I know he did it for love.

Some people give to their partner's family so they could show off and they know this when they give the gifts. I questioned this act and called it vulgar but that doesn't make me intolerant of anyone or Thai people. They did what you felt was right and I simply disagreed.

Those who wish to give sin sod should go for it. You will do whatever you feel is right for you in your own unique situation.

You keep beating the drum about Sin Sod just being a way for Thai people to show off. How did you come to this conclusion? The examples that I have given about what my Sin Sod is used for are normal everyday needs. Do you buy gifts for your girlfriend's/boyfriend's immediate family on special occasions like birthdays? Do you help them out in times of need? This is being a responsible member of your partner's family. If you don't do this, I'm sure the members of your partner's family consider you to be a cold and cheap farang. You can live in a country without agreeing with all aspects of the native culture. That is your right. But get your reasoning right...Sin Sod is not just given for "face" value or for merit. You think it is foolish for us farangs to give Sin Sod to our partner's family? Who cares? I didn't ask for your permission in the first place.

thats right Farang princess you stamp your little feet and tell em.....

But what is the point of your post?

..exactly.

Does there need to be a point? Can't the guy just share a story,after all,it is a forum.

You are quite right. If you feel you need to share something of yourself with the online community that's up to the individual. There doesn't really need to be a point. But when in you read the same story over & over in all its different forms, it can be like trying to read a newspaper when you allready know all the news & outcomes to the sports matches.

Cheers,

Soundman.

OK now i understand why so many of the older members get so touchy so quickly,I have only been a member for a stort time so its still a fund place for me to read and write posts here on thaivisa.I too will probably get jaded after many years on this site.Until then keep smiling you will be a long time dead.

I smell a Troll

Its called entertainment....just an interesting story about how some people get to be living in thailand.

You guys all go on so much about TROLL what is the thing about this word that fasinates you all so much.

Thanks for the entertainment. Now go away.

Now is that a nice thing to say farang princess...did anyone force you too read this post?

I smell a Troll

Troll, douche... hard to tell.

Just what we need....another farang female bashing thread.

If it's a true story I think the blonde lady made the right call. I'm sure she's making some man back home happy.

Yes she went back to Adelaide got back with an old boyfriend....problem was he was still married with children....she broke that marriage up then moved on to a guy on broadbeach ,gold coast.Took him for a heap of money in a failed resturant business.now she has a very old man who is looking after her as she got very sick after all those years of wine and song.

Its just a story dont get so sad.

I smell a Troll

Its called entertainment....just an interesting story about how some people get to be living in thailand.

You guys all go on so much about TROLL what is the thing about this word that fasinates you all so much.

My beautiful Norwegian wife and I was on a stop over in bangkok while on our way to europe,we did some touring around and finished up near pat pong road one night for dinner.As usual my red wine swilling wife picked another argument with me about nothing important.After an hour or so she told me if i dont like this or that i know what i can do(piss off).So i did,I walked for awhile past a few bars then the bar girls started to call "hey sexy man"etc.I went into a bar to drown my thoughts.after many drinks and a stop at a place for a bubble bath etc.I arrived at the hotel to find my wife had locked me out of our room so i had to get another room....it was 4am.

Soon after this we separated for good and got a divorce.I had caught yellow fever and never want to be cured thank you.I live in thailand now with a lady issan we are very happy no more arguments.

It did take me 3 years to get over the ex but a few trips back to thailand helped me a lot.my lady issan does not drink...lucky me.

I thought you might get married if you want to have children together.

Arent they cute enough to tempt you to get married and have kids?

It's a marketing ploy to sucker you into a lifetime of slavery.

They are so cute and so much fun.....shame they have to grow up and they cost so much $$$$$

So why do so many farangs get married?why not just live together? what are the benefits to marriage.I thought you might get married if you want to have children together.

state six, the only thing wrong wioth your idea is there are no groups of sexy young girls in the sticks.

half a dozen-weeklong-bar fines, promisses of upcountry trip, generous bonus tip at the end and lots of Beer Chang/SangSom/Rice Whiskey free for all should sort out this minor problem.. ahh forgot Som Tum available 24/7 and 2 TV's, one playing channel 3 soaps, the other playing channel 7...

udon thani is not too far away. They have sexy young girls there or not ??? How about nong khai ?

Sakon nakhon is only 20 klm away and many sexy girls there in golden ponds night club or next door in the new go go bar (opened 3 months ago).The main road out of Sakon nakhon has short time motel rooms every 10 klms there are many horny old men around here helping school girls with there fees.

Most of us guys, if caught cheating on our Thai wives, wouldn't mind if she burned our property down or trashed our cars or other possessions. So why would we judge a man who did the same to his wife. What's good for the goose is good for the gander!

This is a very good piont.....makes you stop and think about those who live in glass house

This is a real story i walked around the remains of this big 3 story house it was very sad to see.many of the village people came out to look at me i think they thought the crazy farang was back.so i jumped into my car and got away quick.

I went to a farang bar called lilleys on the main road going to mukdahan the owner is called tony .he was very interested in this story so i took him to see this house we both had another look around.a lady told us that he was tipped off about his wife playing up on him thats why he came home early and caught them in the act......no one likes to take about this in the village.So if any one wants to see this house call in to see tony at 'Lilleys bar' 20 klm out of sakon nakhon on the road to mukdahan it has a big UK flag out side.

that was a sad story about the lady who died of cancer and the family turning against him.

I was visiting friends in a village near munglia 20klm from sakon Nakhon,when i came upon a 3 story house that had been burned and partly destroyed.I asked a few locals what had happened but no one wanted to speak of it.But in the next village i was told of the german guy who came home from a trip overseas to find his thai wife in bed with another man.He was so angry he set fire to their house then returned the next day with some guys and started to destroy what was left.I thought this very sad to destroy such a nice house.After telling a few farangs this story they all said they would do the same if their wifes/girlfriends played up on them .

it seems you can not throw her out so the next best thing is to destroy the house.So there it is a burnt out shell in the middle of the village.I thought such a waste.

So what would you do if this happened to you.......my self i would just walk away and start a new life.

I went to visit a friends parents in a village,after a nice afternoon i decided to go into the nearest towns see the sights.As i drove thru the village(very slowly)a pack of about 6 dogs rushed across the road in front of me so i stopped....i waited and they all seemed to have gone across OK so i started to move .Then bump there was still one left under my car.I got out to find a medium size pup going thru the jerking death motions surounded by children they thought it was fun.Then a lady came out from the house and soon as she saw me ($$) she started to cry and shout in thai ....the children just played and giggled.I can not speak thai and the lady new who i was as it is a small village so i drove off.

Next morning a heared a lot of talking out side the house at 6 am it was the lady who said it was her dog.My friends parents gave her 100 baht they seemed happy so i asked what they did with the dog....she said we ate it last night.So it seems 100 baht is the going rate if you run over a dog.

Does anyone know how much for chickens and buffalo....i might need to know one day.

trolllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllll

Jdinasia you are a real party poopa.....people enjoying a story and you have to jump in with.....NOTHING is that all you can do !!! whinge. you should lighten up a bit enjoy life tell us a story from your driving days.

How much is it a month? About 1000B? I was in the city today again but forgot again? About the only way to find accomodation is by word of mouth, I stayed in JPK Mansion behind Tesco Lotus for a year while I was building a house. 3000 baht a month thai apartment, but better than the wooden hut I was staying in.

Communication was a problem but I think its just under 900Baht for 512 and 1K plus for 1Mbit. I dont know if there is any usage allowance. Any chance we can meet up, I am about to settle in SN and very badly need someone to advise me.

regards

don

There are about 4 farang bars and cafes in Sakon Nakhon...the one opposite thai airways run by Tony has lots of info for people living in the Sakon nakhon area.Also Neds bar near golden ponds night club.Try to catch up with these guys they know lots about the area.

Its a nice place to live,

I now stay in Thailand with an O (wife) 1 Year etension for about 3 Years. Each and everytime I#m supposed to register my address (which has changed a few times during this period, as I refuse to buy any property here in these times ...) I just tell them the adress I reside, andtey have never asked me for prove.

Sunny

I think i will ask the head man in village.I built house for G/F in village and she lets me live there.I am going for the retirement visa from an O visa.Now i have to go embassy for income letter.any problems i will post them..thank guys .

there is indeed an Immigration office in Mae Sai, northernmost Thailand. It's 1 Km back from the border on the west side of the hwy, very near a concrete overpass. Perhaps not surprisingly, Mae Sai Imm officials are very subjective. If you show up alone, and there's any 'gray area' on your visa request, they'll lean to a decision that bolloxes up the foreigner's plans.

If, however, you show up dressed smartly, speak Thai, act like a used car salesman on speed, then you'll get more useful solutions. For optimum service, show up with respectible looking Thai man or, better yet, a glamorous Thai woman with lots of jewelry - then you're sure to get as good a deal as possible. They don't speak English there, and other than a cursory initial glance at the farang, they'll focus all their attention, questions, concerns toward the Asian person in attendance.

If anyone has ever wondered where the thousands of gov't workers go when they get 'transeferred to an inactive post' ...it's places like Mae Sai border.

WHAT A LOAD OF RUBBISH

Thanks SOAP for your post ....that was so help full and informative.

I live in a village how do i get my address documented for the immigration office visa extention.

That sounds funny........imean how do i prove to immigration that that is my address i have nothing linking that address with my name.

I read you need a letter from your embassy to say you recieve Baht65.000 per month ,to show the immigration people,When you apply for extention visa(retirement visa)I just wonder how you convince the embassy you get this money.....If i get baht 88,000 a month from a rented place i own back home in australia do i simply show the embassy in bangkok a letter from the agent who looks after my Australian property for me and bank account details??

So the question is how do you get this letter from the embassy.How will they know how much you get from home?

Unlike some embassies that have a pre printed letter / declaration for this purpose, the Australian embaasy use Stat Decs.

Blank ones are available from the Consular services area in the Embassy. You fill it in and show proof of identity (passport / oz drivers lic) After payment of about 560 bht (this changes due to exchange rates) they will stamp and sign the stat dec.

Thats it

That must be one h_ll of a rented place you have at A$790 a week

Thanks Thai Chi

sounds like you have done this yourself ? Do you go to the embassy proper or the visa office?

yes a great property i bought 6 years ago( its a shop) in cairns for $380.000...gets $4765 a month take out cost (rates and body corp) and thats $ 800 aweek for me....lucky hey.I just retiered so now i dont have to touch the super for awhile till it builds up a bit more then take the allocated pension.

I hope i can live on $800 aweek.

I read you need a letter from your embassy to say you recieve Baht65.000 per month ,to show the immigration people,When you apply for extention visa(retirement visa)I just wonder how you convince the embassy you get this money.....If i get baht 88,000 a month from a rented place i own back home in australia do i simply show the embassy in bangkok a letter from the agent who looks after my Australian property for me and bank account details??

So the question is how do you get this letter from the embassy.How will they know how much you get from home?

My father said that he would come out here and get a young woman if my mother dies before him.

Not sure what to make of that.

How important is sex when you're 60,70, 80?

Maybe I should plan for a new model when I am 70. 60 year old woman, nah, I'm not even going to think about it.......

I think you should all relax and enjoy your selves while you can....dont waorry about money or immigration problems or even global warming as bird flu will arrive soon and half the world will be gone.then we will see some changes that for those who are left....oh it will be older people with low imune systems that will survive the bird flu.Lucky old buggers again...

I currently live in the states. We have a huge problem with illegal immigrants here. I would never in my life live in another country illegally.

It's a morals and principle thing for me.

How does morality come into it? If i'm born in country X and i want to live in country Y, and "the man" tells me i can't, but i live there anyways; does that make me "immoral"?

Are you making the claim that doing the above is inherently wrong/immoral? And if so please explain why you believe it is inherently wrong.

Simple, it's illegal. You are offending your hosts by breaking their laws as though the don't apply to you. Very common problem with Americans. Don't know if you are or are not American.

I wonder how you are so informed that you know that breaking the laws is a comon problem with Americans. Plus you don't even know if the OP is American. If not, does that shoot a hole in your gross generalization? Two of the more notorious overstayers in recent memory happen to have been Swiss and German. Stick to the topic and keep your prejudices to yourself.

I am British and American.

And my arguement is not that it is legal or illegal; as yes it is illegal.

In fact my point is exactly as you have stated [brianwl] that it is a matter of law, and not a matter of morality. It is not the same thing.

Whereas in your original post you claim the 2 to be the same.

I thought an ill eagle was a sick bird !!

On Saturday 7th April, I was the victim of a house burglery whilst out for dinner.

The thieves stole my lap-top, DvD player and more annoyingly my passport, UK Drivers license, and my Bangkok Bank Account book.

The Police were not really interested, and filled out a report and told me to contact my insurance. Did they take lessons from our Police in the UK?!!!

However, I called the British Embassy in Bangkok to report my passport stolen and they were most helpful. I went in on the following Monday, with the police report and filled out the necessary paper-work and they ordered me a new passport.

Today I travelled from Hua Hin to get the new passport and I went with copies of the old one, copies of the visa I had (one year multiple Non B valid until 3rd September 2007. True to their word, the British Embassy had a new passport waiting for me and had written a letter to Thai Immgration at Soi Sua Phlu, Sathorn Road, Bangkok, explaining that my passport had been stolen and requesting that they would kindly re-issue my visa in the new passport.

Straightforward enough I thought.

Upon arrival at the Immigration Office, I was surprised to be seen in a matter of minutes, and the lady asked me for my documents. I handed these in including a copy of the old passport, copies of the original visa and entry stamp, and a copy of my arrival card. (I'd made copies of these just in case of any such thing ocurring!)

I was handed a plastic number and asked to wait.

"52" was called out and I came to the counter, still in disbelief at how quick and easy this had all been.

NOT SO!!!!

I looked at the three stamps that had been placed in my new passport and the visa was not there.

I politely questioned the lady as to the where-abouts of my visa.

NO CAN DO. YOU GO HOME TO GET ANOTHER ONE IN UK!!!!!!

Can you imagine that??!!!!

As it happens, I'm booked to go back to the UK for a trip on 4th May, well inside the time of the exit stamp she kindly supplied me with...

But can you imagine if I had not had such a trip planned??!!

I am astounded at this treatment. 1st to be robbed is bad enough. New passports are not exactly cheap, and add to that two trips to BKK from Hua Hin. But to be told to go back to my home country to get another visa?! This beggars belief - when they can clearly see a copy of the original one which does not run out until September.

Has this happened to any one else??!!

I had heard that things were getting tight re: visas etc. but this is really poor treatment.

Sorry to hear about your bad luck i know how difficult it is to replace all those items.....i lost passport driving license bank book birth certificate and much more in a house robbery.Still not replace the license from UK too difficult.

In my time here, I have killed two dogs with my car. I never stopped, so I never paid anything... But, if I did stop and paying was appropriate (kids pet, old lady's pet...) I would give 500 baht or so...

Your right 100 baht is a small price to pay ....i new this was not a throw your dog at falang car thing as there was 5 or 6 dogs,too many to be thrown at one time.

I did feel bad for a few days then the lady next door asked me to try some dog she was cooking so i tried it.All i could taste was the spice she had used.I was thinking of a golden labrador seeing eye dog at the time i was eating and this made me not so hungry anymore.