rogerchiangmai

Have been mulling which car to buy and found following this topic very helpful. Did a test drive, liked the car more than I thought I would, went back and ordered a GL Auto.

Agree the fuel consumption comments above, not really an issue, wife definitely prefers an auto, and to be honest so do I, Its just that bit easier around town, and although I was a manual driver for a long time I've changed to liking the convenience of the autos, but its a personal thing. I like ABS, but agree in a small car, fairly light it's not as critical, but who knows one day on a wet road something unexpected happens and the brake system makes the vital difference. The top version GLX was tempting, mainly as it has 2 airbags, and the wheels look nicer. The other extras didn't really inspire me though, and you have to draw the line somewhere so I didn't think it was value for money.

Waiting list now up to 10 months for auto version, as at November 2012. We are beginning to see more on the roads though, and its getting a good reputation.

Thanks again all for all the helpful posts.

Yup a great guitarist so nice to have him playing in CM. of course adding a good jazz vocalist really adds to the mix, but they seem thin on the ground for some reason in CM!

Buy or rent the same dilema for bike, car etc. If you are here for 5 months you have to be pretty confident that you can buy and sell exactly when you need to. Rental is flexible - the main question (IMHO) is getting a bike that is properly maintained and roadworthy, has decent insurance cover and does all your services. I know it's tempting to go cheap, but road safety should be uppermost - check tyres, brakes etc. If you haven't ridden a lot before make sure you give yourself time to get familiar and confident - hospital casualty depts full of motorbike accident victims.

Must have been really difficult to do a documentry using your own family, so well done to the filmaker and for getting the recognition. As for the couple, I think they say that successful marriages are those based on honesty - get the deal right before you tie the knot. Sounds like the couple know pretty much where they stand and are honest about it, so good luck to them - the rest is not our business...

OK some additions to this thread:

1 Tuk Tuk taxis are nearly all rented very few owned - minimum rental period 3 months.

2 Farangs are not allowed to be Tuk Tuk Taxi Drivers

3 Farangs can with a bit of hassle and determination own and run a Tuk Tuk as a private vehicle, but there are hurdles...

a You need a Tuk Tul licence - a car and/or motorbike licence not enough

b You need to comply with whatever the transport dept want you to do to get it registered (colour schemes, signs etc.) but in Chiang Mai they will deter you. You should be able to register it anywhere in theory though as the transport system in online now (before you needed to register in Chiang Mai)

c Some cities are more relaxed it seems - Udon Thani has loads of falangs driving Tuk Tuks around I hear.

d Finding a cheap Tuk Tuk is near impossible - they are regarded as a working vehicle, and have inflated prices - only beat up knackered models with a lot of problems seem to be offered cheap.

4 They are fun to drive - but not everyone's idea of fun after the novelty wears off.

Good luck!

OK - complete coincidence. The best hammocks IMHO are the bamboo variety, beautifully woven out of a single piece of bamboo, they are strong, comfortable and supportive. I have one that needs to find a home - PM me for details if you want to follow up.

Thanks for organising.

OK count me in + 1

I had a wooden block floor sanded stained and varnished 4 months ago. They put 3 or 4 coats of varnish .

Already in about 2 or 3 places there is a slight gap between the wooden blocks and no varnish

Can I buy some clear varnish and revarnish a small area or will that look bad

If I wanted to get a whole room revarnished could it just be cleaned and more coats of varnish applied

Any comments appreciated

Cheers

Hi yes had the same problem recently. The explanation from the builders who put it in was that the wooden blocks were not properly seasoned at the time of installation. As a result they dry out and shrink. As far as I know no easy way around that. Yes can revarnish - if yoiu haven't used wax on the floor relatively easy - a very light sand first to act as a key and then recoat. Take your pick from the various brands, I don't know whih is best - my workers just went for the cheapest before I knew it.

HI, have played squash and racketball a few times at the Gymkana - yes up for a game - but will have to be after Songran as will be away. Maybe a good idea to set an evening Tues or Weds 5.00pm? and whoever turns up can rotate using 2 courts if necessary. R

A two-bedroom house inside the moat (in the north-west corner) is about to become available. Office downstairs, two bedrooms upstairs one of which is airconditioned, two bathrooms (upstairs has no hot water, but downstairs has hot water).

We paid 15,000 B/month, and are about to leave. Our landlord is Khun Suphat, happy to provide his phone by PM for anyone looking at said property. He speaks a little english.

Hi, yup interested so do send me phone number by PM - cheers.

Hi - yup I have had it for 2 years now and is very very rarely down. They keep upping the speed for free - had an sms this week that 2Mb going up to 4Mb free from this month. I think this is a good value package and reliable - well that's my experience.

Wise words - I'll try and follow that. Already had one house price all fully agreed and then a hike up of 100,000 at the last minute almostly certainly because my presence became known. Incredible as the prices are falling right now!

OK thanks for that - good point about the reconstruction disruption. I want to crack the legalities and costs before I go ahead and purchase a place, speaking to PYB first a good idea.

Prices for old houses seem to vary widely.

I am considering moving a house from Chiang Mai to Khon Kaen - the house is a sound single storey wooden construction. I believe there are some companies who can handle this type of move and I wonder if anyone knows of anyone or has used someone that they could recommend. I heard somewhere that big companies are best as they know how to handle the paperwork involved and are generally better at dismantling and possibly reassembly.

Advice welcome Roger

Can't help with the traintimes - perhaps check with the station, but have done this trip (on the early train) and walked on from the station up through the national park an up to the top. Is a really good walk - the park people most friendly, nice thai restaurant and a small visitor centre.

Main reason for posting however is to let you know that the return leg is frequently a problem - the outgoing train seems to run on time, but the return train is unreliable so be prepared for a wait.

Hope that helps.

Rasseru,

I don't want to jump on the bandwaggon but really that was a dismal posting - do you not think about the effect you have on others when you make such rude comments!

Think quality not quantity!

I think you will find that translations have to be authorised - you could check out from the embassy or consulate

An update on the marriage visa extension interview that might be worth sharing for anyone in a similar position.

Two days after the original visit to immigration to apply for visa extension 3 guys visit our house. They were not interested in photos with house etc. as reported elsewhere. They telephoned in advance however to make a convenient time and asked us to set up a meeting with a third party who could verify that we are genuine. Our neighbour offered to help so they interviewed her, in some detail - what did her husband do, does she have children, does she work, what did she do before marriage, how long has she lived here etc. One guy asked questions, the other wrote the answers on a report - nearly two sides of A4 and about 20 different items all neatly written. Our neigbour had to produce her ID card and provide a photocopy, and everything had to be signed as is normal. They were pretty uninterested in us, they just confirmed a few details that they already held, presumably as the paperwork was sufficient. We were told that this report would be sent off to Bangkok and that we should attend our local immigration again in 12 days time by which time we should have an answer...and that was that.

It was all amicable, the guys following out their job instructions I guess. The chap asking the questions seemed to be the older and more experienced. He struggled, (and failed) to stifle his yawns while the scribe laboured, and I thought he must have done something similar to this umpteen times before and probably now found it tedious.

These guys were however courtious, quick, professional and efficient they just went about their job as expected of them, so a small price to pay in the long run...or so I hope!

Cheers guys - appreciate your advice.

No tax for me in Thailand as I receive retired income only and tax paid in UK at source and compulsory so the "double taxation clause" kicks in to prevent the likes of me paying twice. Shame as would prefer to pay tax here, but no choice on that one!

Roger Chiang Mai

Hi, I am living longer term in Thailand now and have come up to my first 1 year visa extension. Currently on Non Imm OA long stay visa on the basis of being 50+ and satisfying financial requirements. I am changing from retirement to marriage (OK I know not technically a marriage visa but that's what everyone calls it) we have no kids but more than satisfy all the financial stuff.

Everything OK at immigration, helpful people etc. but told we have to await a visit from an immigration official to our house to verify that we are not a marriage of convenience. We were also told by the nice staff that as a routine they may well interview neighbours as well. I am pretty relaxed about this but just for peace of mind, will we have to do this every year or is it just because I am changing from retirement to marriage visa?

As new to this any other pearls of wisdom appreciated, but financial side and all other docs already pre approved (I am a trusting sort) so no need to dwell on those aspects thanks.

Final question, any info on residency application and requirements after 3 years? does the 3 year requirement start from when I first obtained retirement visa 03/06 or does the change to marriage affect that. Does anyone know current details of what other hoops you have to jump through?

Thanks for your help.

I think the thread origin was partly about why the charge came in. I am not sure exactly but think that once a business passes a certain turnover, and maybe other criteria the tax has to be applied. I am not sure if the business has any discretion, possibly not. It seems that the service charge element is usually added at the same time, presumably that part is discretionary but again not sure - could be linked to tax authorities rules around taxing tips and service charges.

Agree with all said about S&P however - but the power of branding McDonald style will probably ensure their continued growth...sadly!

Yup can confirm that this trail is only suitable for walking. It is a lot shorter than the road route and is the way pilgrims used to travel to Doi Suthep. There are in fact 5 temples along the way with DS being the last. One tricky bit if you try it is where you meet and cross the road. You meet it around half way, there are no signs, just turn left up the road for a 100m or more and look for an obvious path leading steeply up hill on the other side of the road. After that plain sailing - the path emerges just a few 100m short of DS and you take the road. If you still have the energy the naga steps await!

Happy travels.

A tremendously sad story and sympathies go out to her family. There are around 16000 views now and some 200+ responses.

I wonder what interest would have been generated if the story was Thai man robbed and killed in Sukhothai - just a thought.

I am led to believe that murders of Thais are commonly not reported by the police - drunken brawls at the end of local festivals are not uncommon and deaths sometimes maybe often result???

Well SR I respect your view of course, and maybe you are right - but the staff, well one in particular was insistent that there had been a NATIONAL meeting just the week before and that everyone would have to pay. They backed down of course under protest that there had been no publicity or signage to that effect at the park entrance, among other things. We all 10 of us paid 20THB as a group discount presumably because they thought we were a tour rather than a group of friends who happen to live in Chiang Mai. If they did indeed have a local meeting (which I somehow doubt) it seems they have reversed any decisions made so perhaps we have done a good service, although the simplier explanation is that we simply averted a try on.

Sriracha John and Goshawk - I think you have misread my take on this, or perhaps the original posting is way too far back now. I repeat it was completely off that the staff at one National Park tried to convince my wife that a meeting had taken place just recently and that all westerners at all national parks irrspective of their residency or occupation in Thailand had to pay 400THB with immediate effect. So off in fact that at the same national park they have since allowed people in for the local rate 40THb. IN OTHER WORDS THEY LIED TO TRY AND EXTRACT 400THB FROM ALL 10 PEOPLE PRESENT THAT DAY, so in my book that is very off.

To CNX Mike - situation has clearly not changed here in Chiang Mai and probably wider, (but this thread has become long and winding so difficult to follow) therefore as before it seems that generally if you can convince the national park entrance staff that you are not a short stay tourist by producing driving licence or similar, or chatting to them in Thai or via a Thai speaker then you will get in at local rates. Clearly their are exceptions at some national parks depending on variables such as staff on duty that day, how the staff feel, how busy it is etc. and certain parks seem more inflexible but unlikely that has been a genuine national clampdown or national policy shift from this month based on the experiences shared here.

NB: I was at Mae Sa waterfall 2 weeks ago - showed driving licence, got in at local rate no problem and perhaps have been lucky on my travels, but have always found that to be the case although haven't been to southern islands etc. for a while admittedly.

I hope that this helps.