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Digger
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Posts posted by Digger
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Certainly sounds like a lot of gear but does anyone know what the sentence is for something like Marujana/class 5 drug in Thailand?
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Just a thought, if your British have you considered sharing your story with a UK national newspaper? Lots of them are showing stories of how Brits are travelling abroad to pay for surgical procedures to jump waiting lists in the UK. I could just imagine seeing this type of story being very interesting to the likes of the Daily Mail, as another side of what can happen. At the very least, in this scenario, they would probably agree for you to see a specialist for your condition in Harley Street on a private basis and I am sure that specialist would have no qualms with saying exactly what he thought of the procedure and what has gone wrong. They would need the specialist to say what has gone wrong to back up the story so possibly they would pay for him to check you out at least.
The knock on of this is that if he says the op was cocked up, could be major problem for the good folks at the TOT looking to encourage medical tourism.
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Had GF tested Anti Hiv test and the other STD tests all negative. I have been with her 24/7 for two months. Always safe sex. When I read about testing I discover the early tests detected anti hiv in 6 to 12 weeks now tests detect in 2 to 3 weeks. Is that accurate? 2 to 3 weeks for the vast majority of people?
Depends what type of test it is - some test for the bodies anti virus working - hence the term Anti HIV test and some test for the HIV virus itself. The first one can take 3 months or more to start moving aorund the body after an infection. Not so sure about the latter.
Be sure to get the tests done at a proper hospital - I am no way convinced that many clinics (particularly those that promise 1 hr or less testing) actually do any testing. Quick testing kits cost around 15US$ a time, yet somehow some clinics in BKK and Pattaya offer quick testing for 300 baht. Go figure how they can do that as the technology that tests it so quick I believe is patented so there is no way around it.
Also did you check for HEP A/B/C - very important and often overlooked.
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I bought 20 bags of crisps on sunday evening (no lie, pissed on the way home) they all tasted great.
A while back they were "specially priced to clear"
Its a good shop for certain products,
You have eaten all of them already Dave ?
20 bags in 2 days is pretty good going - have you got any left to check the sell by date on them?
You saying you bought them whilst P****d on the way home made me think back to buying burgers from the burger van parked outside the disco on a Saturday night - come to think of it they always tasted good at the time, but it was the next day when the burger sought its revenge
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This is definately an aussie owned shop.
Were the Walkers crisps being sold at a discounted price ?
Personally i have no problem if items beyond the use by date are being sold at a discount and they are up front about it.
It does however look very suspect when the use by date has been tampered with.
They were on a special offer but no mention made that the reason its a special is because they are well past the sell by date.
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A real big anoyance to me is selling food that is past its sell by date. Couple of months ago there was the thread about Yorkies stuff being couple of days past its sell by date up in Bangkok but this time I think I have found the worst example yet.
On display in the Aussie owned Foodmart supermarket in Jomtien
You sure his an Aussie? thought he was a pom?
I thought he was an Aussie but might be wrong - colour scheme of the shop (gold and green) just always makes me think of Australia rugby shirts !!!!
Incidentally, the chilled meat pies that are sold under their own name have no manufactured or best before date whatsoever. Must be their policy not to display such things and purely rely on mould determining the time to take the products of the shelves
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A real big anoyance to me is selling food that is past its sell by date. Couple of months ago there was the thread about Yorkies stuff being couple of days past its sell by date up in Bangkok but this time I think I have found the worst example yet.
On display in the Aussie owned Foodmart supermarket in Jomtien are about 400 bags of imported crisps from Walkers and other companies all on a special offer. They have all had the expiry date removed except when you look on the Wotsits, because the expiry date is printed on shiny foil, it gets embossed, the ink had been scraped off but you could still just about see the expiry where its left a mark on the foil. The expiry date was June 2005
. Heavan only knows how old the other crisps are where they have been more adept at removing the expiry date. So has anyone seen anything older than 4 months past its sell by date (other than the normal selection of women seen during the twilight hours on the beachfront
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There has been an increasing number of postings relating to hospitals, the availability of pharmaceuticals and health insurance in Thailand. We should know that holding medical and accident insurance is crucial, yet many visitors and tourists, both short term and long term, still come to Thailand without any form of medical or accident insurance. It costs relatively little for complete peace of mind. The costs involved, should a visitor not have insurance, are significant and, probably, cannot be met by the immediate budget of the average traveller. Also, the various ‘under the table’ costs should not be forgotten.
My sister has just returned to the UK after several weeks on holiday here. She holds comprehensive annual travel insurance cover, as she travels frequently, and she had cause to call upon it last week.
She bought some strawberries from a local market in Jomtien, washed them thoroughly and ate them by the swimming pool in the evening. She was extremely ill that night and throughout the next morning. She needed to see a doctor and so I took her to a “reputable” hospital in Pattaya. (I won't name the hospital but it has something to do with this thread!). A doctor recommended that she be admitted to the hospital for twenty-four hours for observation and care. The Admissions Officer asked her if she had insurance and she confirmed this. My sister was asked to prepay 10,000 Baht to cover the hospital bill in advance; any surplus would be refunded to her on her discharge.
The following day my sister checked out of the ward and went to the cashier’s office to settle the bill. The total bill for a twenty-two hour stay was 16,109 Baht! The following is a summary of the bill: -
1 Drugs and Parental Nutrition 5,487 Baht
2 Medical Supplies 367 Baht
3 Lab Investigation and Pathology 1,100 Baht
4 Medical Equipment 300 Baht
5 Nursing Charge 1,200 Baht
6 Physician Services 4,300 Baht
7 Standard Inpatient Accommodation 3,000 Baht
8 Food 295 Baht
9 Other Hospital Charges 50 Baht
__________
Total 16,109 Baht
Pre-paid 10,000 Baht
Naturally, she was shocked and she queried the bill, especially items 1, 3, 4 and 8.
Item 1: During her brief stay in hospital, she was given a total of 12 pills; she counted them individually. She was told that the drugs were imported, very specialised and very expensive. She said to the cashier that the cost of these 12 pills (5,487 Baht) was probably more than the cashier’s salary!
Item 3: The explanation of this cost was that a sample of her blood had been checked in the laboratory. No blood had been removed from her body throughout the stay! The cashier contacted the Admissions Officer by telephone and was told that, whilst my sister was being admitted, a saline/glucose drip had been inserted into her arm and a sample of her blood had been withdrawn at the same time. This was NOT SO as I had watched the application of this drip and no blood was taken! A further phone call was made and a new explanation was given that stool investigation was done. My sister is adamant that this didn't happen and she should know!!!!
Item 4: This cost was associated with the use of the drip applicator. Apparently, it was equivalent to a rental charge on the applicator!
Item 5: In her condition, food was the last thing on her mind but she tried to eat some chicken soup in the morning. The cost of a bowl of soup was 295 baht! A passing doctor told my sister that the hospital had to cover their investment!
She paid the remaining money and asked if she could have a medical certificate confirming her illness and ‘treatment’. The medical certificate would be available for collection six days later. (This delay was because the doctor, who recommended admission, was away on my sister’s discharge and my sister had planned to be in Bangkok for a few days). Six days later, the medical certificate had not been prepared and the following conversation went something like this: -
Hospital Receptionist: - “Can you come back tomorrow as the doctor is not here?”
Sister: - “Sorry, that’s not possible as I am flying to London tonight”.
HR: - “OK, could you come back in two hours?”
S: - “Sorry, but I have a prior appointment and, after all, you’ve had six days already in which to prepare it. Here is the collection note”.
HR: - “OK, can you wait one hour?”
S: - “OK, but would it be possible to have a duplicate certificate as I need one for my employer and the other to submit to my insurance company? Photocopies are not acceptable”.
HR: - “OK, but it will cost you 1,000 Baht for a second certificate and there is no doctor available at the moment”.
S: - “I don’t think so! Can I speak to your supervisor or another person in authority? I have paid more than enough already for really very little”.
HR: - “Yes, please wait”. (Short telephone call made by the HR).
HR: - “You want a photocopy”?
S: - “No, as I have told you, photocopies are not acceptable”.
HR: - “OK, but you will have to pay for another certificate and the charge is 500 baht”. (previously 1,000 baht!)
S: - “I’m sorry but I would like to talk to a doctor or someone in charge”.
HR: - “You will have to wait”. (HR now getting angry and plainly resentful).
After a few minutes, the HR whispered to a colleague (non-medical staff) through a hatchway. The colleague peered around the side of the hatchway and quickly pulled back as she realized that she had been spotted. At this time the computer on the reception desk started printing out a duplicate certificate which was then signed by the colleague behind the hatchway and given to my sister.
It appeared that my sister perhaps had spoiled some little scam and when she asked to see someone in charge the ‘cost’ was reduced from 1,000 baht to 500 baht! When my sister insisted, the HR printed out, begrudgingly, another certificate. The printing took all of 2 minutes and it was not a doctor who signed it.
NOTE: It is interesting that BUPA (British United Provident Association) Blue Cross Insurance doesn't include this particular hospital on its approved hospital list.
I have said this before, that Pattaya Hospitals are more expensive than the top flight one's in BKK such as Bumrungrad and BNH. This just confims my view. Most of their business comes from holidaymakers who are insured and they take full advantage of the situation.
Imported pills for a stomach upset - whatever next ??? Sounds like a very expensive soup by the way - no doubt that was imported too !!!!
Incidentally Physician services at over 4,000 baht is an absolute scam - At Bumrungrad, its 500/600 baht a time they come and visit you as an inpatient, unless they are doing something like a surgical procedure or a radiologists fee - at 4,000 baht, sounds like the doctor was permanently attached to the bed offering 24 hr care which of course its not going to be the case.
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Very sad.
All credit to you Richard for the actions you took and the comfort you brought to her.
The camillion centre team are truly outstanding and they will have looked after her with dignity and compassion.
Digger
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Very sad news Richard - If you get this message, I really can only strongly suggest that you get her moved - As I have said before, they have NO specialists in HIV treatment at Pattaya International. Its a good hospital, but they have no medicines and no knowledge of how to use to use them for HIV patients. Its like a GP trying to undertake a complex surgical procedure. No matter how hard they try or how willing they are to suceed, they aint going to pull it off.
You must get her moved to BKK Pattaya or up to Bumrungrad. Bumrungrad will even call to their HIV specialists at 1.00am in the morning for advice on how to handle this from their ER room. I have seen it done. Blood work tests are done in less than 30 minutes and then the specialist doctor will advise what medicines to use. They will likely suggest blood transfussions and drugs to counter the TB.
I am not wishing to sound overly optomistic, but many doctors in Thailand who do not specialise in HIV/AIDS think its a death sentence - the specialists know what can and cannot be done - they handle this everyday and you will be very surprised at what they are capable off. Getting to that care is the most important thing at this stage. I would urge you to try and get this girl to the people I have suggested in my message to you.
Good luck
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By the way, any chance of expanding your product offering to provide decent mature/vintage cheddars - very difficult to get and when you can its very very expensive.
Its easy to set up the business by the way. You structure it as the MD, offering the knowledge and business expertise. Your Thai staff do the legwork. Work permit office in Chonburi is looking for a decent size capital investment and good employment prospects PLUS you should mention about imparting knowledge to the Thai staff with the ultimate aim of one day exporting the product. You must be set up for VAT and be very transparent. You will not have a problem getting a work permit if you follow this route. By the way, you will likely achieve a better price if your planning to sell it up, if you do these steps first. Once a work permit is authorised, its rarely stopped, unless you do not meet the tax paying requirements, employing correct number of people etc.
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Extract from prohibited employment sectors for non-thais:
Labouring except for labouring in fisheries under (2).
Agriculture, animal husbandry, forestry, fisheries, except for work requiring special expertise, farm supervision or labour in fisheries especially marine fisheries.
Now, is rearing goats not animal husbandry? Is it a task requiring special skills? In any case, whilst you say that you have performed this task as a hobby, it still requires a WP, which I don't think you will be able to get as a non-Thai.
I'm not trying to be a kill-joy! Just pointing out that you could land yourself in hot water if you continue doing what you are doing without the correct documents
Simon - And running 3 bars in Bkk, with girls avilable for takeout is of course a permitted occupation !!!!!!
Interesting that you take this stance, given the amount of effort that you put into helping your wife, even if it is a hobby.
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unless shes a migdget or something then there are plenty of places that sell clothes for little people. Next, top shop, debenhams all have clothes for people who are small. If she is also flat chested then the kids departments should have plenty of choice.
I will not be passing on that advice to the beloved - ignorance is bliss and helps my wallet no end.....
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I'll have no motor, unfortunately, I'll be staying with family for most of the time, but a few days in London, got a budget of 1,500 quid for 18 days, should be enough????? Only beer money basically.
1500 should be enough - the good thing of course is that they cant go shopping because nothing fits them - p**sed my GF off big time that nothing fitted
, but then she found the bed linen department at Selfridges and more than made up for what clothes she could not buy.... -
It all depends on how the contract is structured.
Rent, per say is not VATable, however the owner is required to pay a further tax of the rental amount at around 15%. Therefore its better for them to split the contract into say 3 contracts:-
Rent for the unit - No VAT, but 15% of the rent in a rental tax
Services - VAT, but no 15% of the rent
Furniture/fittings - VAT, but no 15% of the rent
So typically rental agreements are on this basis.
Basically the reason they do this is that the 15% tax is higher than the VAT - they often get the renter to pay the VAT as an extra anyway so they are keeping more money.
Your bill should be split into 2 - the rent, with no VAT, for which a tax invoice is not applicable and the Services/furniture which is vatable and for which you could ask for a tax invoice.
Most landlords will not give you a proper tax invoice, for the simple reason that they are not VAT registered.
A tax invoice needs to state exactly that either in Thai or English at the top together with a invoice number, company name and address providing the service and their tax number. It must also show exactly the buyers name and correct tax registered address. Any ommission of this will rule it invalid and not eligable to recover the VAT by the buying company. Having said that, companies cannot recover the VAT for any element of employee housing as its not permitted by the VAT office, which is why landlords can and do get away with it.
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If you think this is a serious proposition, I would suggest you make an appointment to go and see one of the partners at Deacons lawyers in BKK. One of the partners ( I forget his name, but its something like Khun Prabas) is pretty well connected - he will tell you if its a scam, but also if he acts for you, he will ensure you dont get diddled. This firm is not cheap - they are one of the top law firms in Thailand and charge accordingly.
Having said that to me at least I cannot see the Govt awarding any contract at the moment for 5,000 houses in the upper class Thai bracket. They are having enough trouble getting the low cost stuff off the ground.
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There is no way you are getting a non stop flight from Japan - its beyond the range of any commerical aircraft (other than private Lear jets etc) capable of landing at Samui, which to all intents and purposes is just BKK Air due to their pricing approach which has effectively ruled out other operators as its just too expensive to land and turn around aircraft economically. If a new airport is built, then maybe it could accomodate Japan flights but thats a good few years away. You may get a scenario where a flight routes from Japan through HKG to Samui but as the largest plane BKK air have is 717, landing fee's at Japan and HKG would again make it an uneconomic proposition.
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Copper is relatively expensive which is why its hardly ever used - I recently had some stuff called PB Piping installed at my house in Pattaya which the plumber has said is good for at least 10 years. Its clearly a plastic type piping and is a very dark gray, almost black colour and hard to the touch like PVC. Seemingly its supposed to be excellent (!!!!!!), so I have given it a try. Its only been in for a couple of months but no problems so far and I have 12KW Siemens water heaters that chuck out a lot of hot water. Very few people though know how to install it properly and perhaps most important, how to glue the joins - its not standard PVC glue that they use for it. The pipe is about 10mm thick.
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Interesting idea but I really would suggest that you devote some time to your website and highlight some of the safety features of your boat. No mention of emergency procedures, lifejackets, rescue etc - people are very aware of this for obvious reasons. Put in a positive manner it will benefit you in the long run and help seperate you from your competition.
By the way, I would actually suggest that you just charge a fixed figure and all draught beers are free. Easier to justify for folks but the reality is that they would be hard pressed to drink more than 10 glasses as an average as some people will drink considerably less than others yet still pay the same price to get onboard.
Also this was done in Pattaya by a couple of guys (Tony's disco and Hollywood disco) but for some reason got closed down by the police. Perhaps you have to get out into International waters?????
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Well, got my visa no real problems, sent 'er indoors down by herself, they asked her a few questions for 5 minutes, she answered competently, and told her to come back today, and then she picked up her's and my kids passport, 6 months visa no worries.
Thanks for the tips fellas.
I haven't been home on 12 years, bit worried really!!!!
Take plenty of money - things are horribly expensive and thats before you hire a car and need to fill it up......
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150 feet tall pylons - is there no limit to how Pattaya City News 'stretches' the truth for the benefit of a good story? Average electric pylon is no more than 30-40 foot high.
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You could also try Home Pro on Pattaya Klang - they have a huge selection of locks for all types of doors including some fangled israeli system that costs a shed load of money but looks very good. They also have full range of Yale locks from the UK, which are a fraction of the price but probably more than adequate to keep out an opportunist thief and more than a couple of steps up from the normal Thai locks.
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Firstly Richardb I hope things are settle a little now with your special friend? I am sorry to make a political point out of your problem, but due to the stupid comments made on another thread following the robbery of a possible gay man I want to make the following obsevations.
I was wondering what the reaction would be if this request was posted by a man enquiring about an old boyfriend. Would other people jump in to help out? Secondly following this story closely, he later posted saying the illness could be HIV/AIDS. What sort of comments would be posted here?
Just wondering
Having read through the thread, I would expect that the end result would have been the same - that is that the concerned friend, took it upon himself to explore different ideas to get the result he wanted - as it is he found out her situation without any assistance from other members of Thai Visa.com, so as not to waste other peoples time.
For example, my reply would have been the same, just insert he for she - perhaps its different when you have experienced a friend with this condition as I have. Cant speak for other posters and no doubt your right that the liklihood would have been comments along the lines of "well serves him right" etc. But that is just human behaviour and often a desire to try and find someone to blame.
Strangely enough, the purpose of my post was to try and offer words of encouragement, IF and its a big IF, the condition is HIV related, getting proper healthcare is critical to the situation. I can easily imagine the reaction in Banglamung hospital, similar to when my friend was diagnosed. They told her to go home and live a good remainder of her life, nothing really can be done. Well blow me down, she is now living a normal life, working and in great shape healthwise after getting some specialist medical care.
Unfortunately WCR you are not going to change people's inbuilt predujices all by yourself. In fact, my biggest concern for the girl who's treatment I pay for is that I worry if she will be sacked by her employer if and when they find out she has HIV, despite her just working in a convenience store - nothing to do with Bars, food or anything where she could risk passing on her condition to someone else. That one we will have to handle as and when it happens.
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I agree with Sumitr man - these are highly likely to be CPB lands - I looked at buying one by the Regent/Four Seasons hotel couple of years ago. The leases are sound and the legal view at that time was that the lease COULD be extended after 30 yrs with another payment to be determined assuming the CPB wanted to keep the buildings in place. Personally I thought they were a bargain and at that time I was only interested in generating an income out of it from rent. You basically cover the cost of purchase in about 5/6 years and then the rest is profit for the remainder of the lease. By now though they will be looking more like having only 20 yrs left on the leases. Many are still shells and never fitted out.
As I say though, for that location they are a steal, assuming of course you understand it just gives you the right to use it for the remainder of the lease period.
Two Brits Drug Dealers Arrested In South Pattaya
in Pattaya
Posted
Imagine taking that lot into the post office, weighing it and posting it off - must have smelt rotten even before the shipment left which I assume is what they would want to put of any sniffer dogs randomly checking packages.