CWMcMurray

I think it would probably cost you about the same, but the English proficiency may be a bit better in the Phillipines.

That's not to say that there are not a fair number of Thais with good English abilities, but most of Thai with a high level of English will cost you a bit more and they have probably been to the best Univerities and may not stick around for long.

Most of them will probably be looking to get hired at large MNCs or will work with the family business.

If no English or very limited English is needed, then I would say its all about the same, so up to you...

Sounds like a good idea, but maybe just a tiny bit premature.

It may not be a bad idea to buy some property in the area of the new base now, but it may be at least a few years before the customers show up...

If you go to the website of the hospital you can take a look at the doctors and their qualifications and even make an appointment online if you like. Just copied the below info on my wife's OBGYN from the wesite... fyi they have 10 female OBGYNs working at their Srinakaran Hospital and only 5 male OBGYNs.

All 15 OBGYNs speak both Thai and English.

Doctor Name : Wacharaporn Weerakul , M.D.

Specialty : OB/GYN, WOMEN - GYNECOLOGY

Sub Specialty : สูตินรีเวชวิทยา (OB/GYN, WOMEN - GYNECOLOGY)

Expertise :

Language : ENGLISH

THAI

Education : M.D.

Diplomate Thai Board Obstetrics and Gynecology

Diplomate Thai Sup-Speciality Board of Reproductive Medicine

I am alkso working for a freight forwarder here in Thailand.

I would advise waiting until you start your job and receive your work permit before importing your goods. Foreign nationals can qualify for "Duty free" import of "Personal Effects" only if they are work permit holders.

Not all items are Duty free, you will need to provide your agent with a full invoice. As per an earlier poster, if the invoice does not match the contents of the container you will end up paying more.

Realize that if you just write clothes on the invoice and then pay a customs officer not to open the container, you are in fact smuggling goods into Thailand, not importing them. If caught be ready to pay the fine...

Any Thai person living overseas for at least one year will also qualify for "Duty Free" entry. So if the girl friend was living with you, her name could be used as the importer of record.

Sorry for popping in here ladies.... didn't realize what an IUD was

but just wanted to add that my wife's OBGYN is a woman and she goes to Samitivej Hospital

Here you go Peace Blodie...

Customs Regs for import of Motor Vehicle

So depending upon the Horse Power any where from 187-328% Duty and Tax, but depending upon the age of the vehicle the value could be reduced by upto 70%

I see Thai guys wearing no shirts all round Bangkok everyday, maybe someone should educate them about this romantic notion of Thai culture

Yes, some foreigner should definately educate these gentleman on what is acceptable in Thai culture according to a book/website they have read. .

I would just put down the Thai price and go inside...

I think that the name "Sufficiency Economy" may not have the best, perphaps plan for "Long Term Sustainable Growth" may have been closer to what is being recomended.

The only problem I have with is the aim of telling the many "have nothings" that they should be satisfied and happy with what they have.

I think one of the real reasons that the case was cleared up so quickly is that all the Thai officials involced know that there are countless similar stories out there.

Ever day that this case remained opened more and more and more and more of these cases would have contiunued to come to light.

Investigative journalism may not exist in Thailand, but it is alive and well in many other countries. I am sure that many jouranlists were searching for more of these stories so that they could be the first to secure interviews with other "victims" of Thai corruption.

I always smile and say hello, its just who Iam,I don't care if the greeting is returned or not,thats there problem.

I agree with you. I will usually try to make eye contact, give them a "nod" and a smile as we pass each other.

This has never led to any discussion or request for anything from anyone ever!!!

Its just called being polite people, but many were not raised with similar values.

I also find it interesting that even though the Governor publically advised that she "did nothing wrong" and the he couldn't believe the bar owner let it come to this.

Earlier the Bar owner advised in an interview that he did not want to press charges.

So the question is:

- If the alledged victim does not want to press charges and the Governor states publically that she did not commit any crime, why did dhe have to pay any fine? Why where the charges not dropped?

She was fined 1000 baht (A$38), which was paid by the Governor of Phuket, Wichai Praisa-nob.

He intervened in the case after receiving telephone calls earlier today from Thailand's Ministry of Tourism and the Foreign Ministry.

Governor Wichai said he felt very sorry for her and considered she was not at fault.

He wondered why the Australian owner of the Aussie Bar would allow a dispute to develop with a fellow Australian.

Theft of something worth the equivalent of two week wgaes.

Resisting arrest.

Verbally abusing the law enforcers.

Petty crime, why lock her up?

Chaps, what country in the world would not bang Sheila up for the offenses she committed?

austrailia because the jails would be full and the streets empty!

Or maybe the same country that allows its own citizens Hijack an international airport without being punished???

Oops... my mistake that is the country would throw her jail...

"The police brought her to Kathu Police Station for questioning, but she refused to admit her guilt and continued to insist that she was joking with her friends," said Col Grissak, who has extensive experience in the ways of foreigners from his work as head of the Tourist Police in Bangkok.

-- Phuket Gazette 2009-05-20

This is a pretty telling statement... the police told her she was guilty and she had the audacity to refuse her guilt.

I would guess if he tries to get divorced in Thailand and they can find his wife (very good chance they will be able to find her), there could be issues of her trying to extort money out of him or contest the divorce. If she doesn't contest it or they can't find her then no problem, very cheap and easy in Thailand.

I would also guess that if he files for divorce in his home country it is very unlikely that his wife will be able to be found by the local court. So it is a near certaintly that the divorce will be uncontested. Then you would need to bring the divorce papers here in Thailand, have them translated and should hold up without any additional proceedings (as long as no assets in Thailand).

I believe that the above is true, but would still recomend consulting a lawyer to confirm.

Should be all the same under the law - shouldn't they?

Couldn't agree with you more,

So, how long do you think it will be until the leaders of the Yellows are also prosecuted for their crimes?

I would imagine that if protesting outside the Parliament house is illegal then storming the build and holding a nation hostage surely should be.

To make my position completely clear, I AM NOT A THAKSIN SUPPORTER. I am in favor of throwing them all in jail.

I just think that the blatant double standards are easily seen by the entire world for what they are... trying to destroy their political opponents.

It is not difficult for a free thinking person who has no real stake in the argument to look at the situation objectively and compare the damage that was done by the "yellows" and the damage that was done by the "reds" and then the difference in how it is being handled by the authorities.

I will repeat your question back to you..."Should be all same under the law - shouldn't they?"

So ther is a speed limit, bu it's 03:45 am and NO ONE ELSE on the road,

no traffic at all and the driver goes: Ah, well and hits it,

accelerates and is radar trapped with 236 km/h .....

as a result he loses his license and a hefty fine!

What if he just told a reporter that he felt that unless the police were there to help patrol the autobond at 03:45 am it is likely that people will drive excessively fast and it could result in an accident and possible deaths? What if he then urged the police to be vigilent and asked for their help to try and prevent posible deaths?

Should he still be arrested?

Sounds like your double entry visa expired before you used the second entry...

Journalist, do you think it's Thaksin's place, as a convicted criminal who has fled the country, to either be urging or demanding anything of the King?

Whether legal or not, i just think that making requests in public of His Majesty is inappropriate and disrespectful.

So are you saying that the LM laws make it illegal to ask for the King's help in Public ???

It's also not really fair to ask people's opionion, if voicing their opinions could get them thrown in Jail.

So what you end upgetting on threads like this is a one-way argument where those who would wish to voice an opposing view must remain silent or face being thrown in jail or being deported.

So not much in the way of any real political discussion is even possible.

Find out what she is interested in and try that first...

Right now it sounds badall around... you want to open a business that you are sure you are going to loose money at and are trying to force your GF to help you h\manage a business that she does not want to open. This already puts you at a bit of a disadvantage.

I have always been very critical of double pricing or what I believe to be practices based upon race, religion, nationality, ect...

But while I may believe banks everywhere in the world are starting to get a little crazy with the fees they are charging, I don't find anything racist about this policy.

They are charging a fee for using a card drawn from a foreign bank. The same rule applies to people of all religions, races, sexes and nationalities, so nothing racist about it.

It just seems like banks the world over have foud a way to make money off of people who are not their customers. I can't say for certain, but I believed this policy started in the west (US I think) and it seems the rest of the banks around the world seem to think it is a good idea.

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The problem I have is that it seems that everyone is charging a fee

Bank in the US charges 5 bucks

Mastercard charges 1%

Thai Bank Charges 150 thb

So it is starting to get quite significant and all of these charges all started only in the last few years, so it seems like rather than covering their costs, banks are just profiteering.

Given the increase in volume of international transactions and improvements in technology cost per transaction should be less than 10 years ago, but they are now charging more per transaction.

But that is a completely different issue than the one raised by the OP

No surprise here...

Yellow shirts & Democrats = Not Guilty (those in power like these guys)

Red Shirts & TRT & PPP = Guilty (those in power don't like these guys)

If there was no double standard the yellow shirt leaders would be joining Taksin and also be facing prosecution for their crimes.

I am all for law and order, but until the yellows are prosecuted every other criminal in Thailand can claim that their prosecution signifies a double standard...

I have seen a lot of folks trying to give them away free just to avoid paying the costs for shutting down the company.

Couldn't you do it with just one Pay pal account?

If both of your accounts are linked to your paypal I believe you can do the following:

1. Receive funds from SSI to your US Bank account

2. Go on-line and transfer to your paypal account - believe this is free but may take 3-4 days

3. Once the funds are in Paypal account transfer to your linked Thai account

Never done it, but think this would work???