jfchandler

I can't speak to Chiang Mai...

But actually, at least around BKK, our esteemed Lopburi was reporting here on TV some months ago that there was going to be some kind of change that would allow farang on retirement visas to have legal employment. I too was surprised by that, knowing the general rule/prohibition in the past. But then, I never heard (and never saw him report on) what the outcome of that subject was.

Separately, in addition, I do know that when I've consulted with Sunbelt Asia in the past, they've also told me it would be possible for me to be legally employed while on a retirement visa. But since I'm not on a retirement visa yet, I haven't fleshed out with them just how exactly they were expecting to accomplish that.

Prescriptions here are not the same as in the west...

You can go to a Thai pharmacy and just ask for and receive any medication they carry, without anything official (i.e. an official prescription form) from any doctor. All you will need/want is the precise information of the medication in question from your doctor - medicine name, strength, dosing, etc. The doc can tell you and you can write it down yourself, or probably better for you to ask the doc to write it for you on any piece of paper that you can then give to your chosen pharmacy. Of course, the hospital docs would like you to obtain the meds from the hospital pharmacy, but you're under no obligation to do that.

There are, however, a relatively smaller number of medicines that are only stocked by hospital pharmacies, and not stocked by the regular commercial ones. In those relatively smaller instances, you're stuck with a hospital (though not necessarily the one where you're seeing the doctor). In those instances, the doc is likely to tell you, sorry, you can't obtain that from non-hospital outlets.

Also, be aware, pharmacies in Thailand are like any other business... Some have higher prices and some have lower prices for the same medicines, depending on their location, clientele, etc etc. So it doesn't hurt to check around a bit and try to get a sense of the prevailing market rates for a medicine, particularly if it's something you're going to be taking on an ongoing basis.

About your other question, I've never heard any news here in Thailand about there being a particular problem with counterfeit medicines being dispensed by reputable pharmacies...

I have a no-deductible Maxi Care policy thru LMG Pacific Healthcare (part of the Liberty Mutual Group) that pays direct for services at a long list of participating hospitals, both in BKK and in the provinces... The list includes all the major farang hospitals around BKK and many others as well..

I've also looked at the Premiere International coverage available thru Lawton Asia, and I believe they also have direct payment to participating hospitals, but only if you have a zero deductible policy. If you have any of their several deductible plans, then I believe you have to submit claims.

Thanks Saigon...I thought Thai had already pulled the plug on their LA nonstops by this time.. I see they haven't ... but apparently will still...

Just for fun, I did an identical days flight comparison for EVA and Thai for the LA-BKK route roundtrip. Leaving LA just before New Year and returning back from BKK in mid June 09.

Just last week, I purchased that ticket direct from EVA online for about $1200 all inclusive. Today, I priced the same trip on Thai's web site as a Royal Orchid Plus member and the best price I could find was $1,572, all inclusive.

The EVA flights were all 777-300ERs with one stop in Taiwan. The Thai flight from LA in late Dec. was nonstop, whereas the return options from BKK to LA in June were all one or more stops in Osaka (no nonstop option available then in their system). The Thai plane from LA would be an Airbus A340-500, but the June trips would all be the older 777-200/300s.

Khun Somchai did not pick up that woman from the street as shown in the video and did not go to the love hotel.

He has a wife.

WOW....I didn't realize that having a wife meant love hotels/motels were off-limits...

Indeed, I'd suspect, most visitors to love hotels/motels probably include at least one party who is already married....

When I've used Bumrungrad in the past, making appointments via their web site/email request form, the response usually seems to come the next day. Same for questions asked about what doctor to recommend, and similar things...

But I think they have their priorities a bit mixed up when it comes to timing.... I wouldn't mind relatively slower next day appointment confirmations at Bumrungrad, if they were NOT also so fast, in contrast, to rush you in and out of your actual doctor's appointment when you have it.

Sex is easy... A truly good Thai wife and woman is hard to find...

No reason you can't have and keep both... Repeat after me... mia noi....

Sorry GirlX... there go our Thankgiving dinner plans out the window...

Cough cough.....

JFC, you have a Platinum Visa??? Can I borrow it later this month?

Just can't get away with anything with you...huh James???

I know you're teasing...but for everyone else... Visa Platinum cards these days as about as common as foreclosures in the U.S., which is to say, everybody and their mother has them... Not quite what the name/precious metal choice implies...

Later today, I did check the Landmark's web site, and they have a variety of restaurant promotions running, including one for I believe a group of four or more for their buffet. But nothing specifically mentioning or relating to their Thanksgiving buffet, at least that I could find now one week ahead.

I'm sure they will be doing one, but it may be at regular rack rates this year, unless someone else knows something different.

I was thinking chocolate-peanut butter candy bar... Mmmmmmmm.....

Depending on where the OP lives, the staff at Sunrise Tacos on Sukhumvit near Soi 12 are almost all Fils... So if there's a decent Fil food outlet in the area, they'd probably know...

Adelita, how does Villa handle the pricing for their delivery service???

As in, individual items are priced the same or different from in the store(s)?

And/or, they add on a fixed (per delivery) or % surcharge for delivery???

Thx...

Really, without any intention of being mean or sarcastic..... I'd say you're a basket case.... Give it up.... You sound like a combination of a 13-year-old school kid (who's going to turn off their mobile phone first...) and the self-described paranoid you seem to be...

Grow up, try to learn about Thai women in the real world, and then... maybe, just maybe...you'll be ready for a relationship someday.... but not from X thousand miles away.... and clearly not now.

Dr. Paritas Sukriket at Samitivej has been favorably recommended by a TV member treated for skin cancer. You can check out his qualifications and those of other dermatologists st Samitivej at

http://www.samitivej.co.th/samitivej_front...?HospitalList=1

Sheryl, I believe that link above is broken/changed.... This might work better:

http://www.samitivej.co.th/samitivej_front...09872&Img=1

But in any case, thems are some fine credentials for a doc in BKK....

Doctor Name : Paritas Sukriket , M.D.

Specialty : DERMATOLOGY

Sub Specialty : ผิวหนัง (DERMATOLOGY)

Expertise : Dermatology

Language : ENGLISH THAI

Education :

Postdoctoral Fellow in the Department of Dermatology, Yale School of Medicine, Yale University

Diplomate American Board of Dermatology

I went for an initial dermatology consult yesterday with Dr. Thanit Palanuvej at BNH Hospital in Silom... Excellent English, good credentials, very comfortable explaining and discussing different options and what ifs, seemed very knowledgeable and sharp, no rush for time, overall very impressed...

I had three different things to discuss with him, and ended up with one hospital prescription.. Total bill was under 1300 baht, including 800 for the physician fee.

DR. THANIT PALANUVEJ

Specialty : Dermatology

Language : English,Thai,

Education Medical school :

MD - Chulalongkorn University

Certification :

Diplomate Thai Board of Dermatology

Schedule Work time :

Day Time

Monday 11:00 - 20:00

Tuesday 08:00 - 20:00

Wednesday 08:00 - 20:00

Thursday 08:00 - 20:00

Friday 13:00 - 17:00

Saturday 08:00 - 12:00

* Available only on 2nd and 4th Saturday

As mentioned above, came back yesterday from a double appointment visit to BNH Hospital with two different doctors in two different specialties whom I had not seen before, but selected on the basis of their profiles/specialties listed on the hospital's web site.

And must say, continue to be very impressed with the doctors and general experience there at BNH, consistent with my prior more limited visits. As an American and longtime newspaper journalist, I have a set of things that I consider important in dealing with a doctor, especially a Thai one. And maybe they are things important for you also.. Both of the doctors I saw rated highly on my list.

Those criteria include: they spoke excellent English, so no language communication problems; they had superior academic and training credentials relative to the reasons for my visit, including training in the U.S.; being me, I peppered both of them with tons of questions about options, diagnoses, what ifs, weighing choices, etc etc., and both responded at length without a flinch. None of the somewhat stereotypical Thai doctor attitude of "Hey, I'm the doctor. I know what's best for you. But I don't need to be bothered to explain myself to you the patient. Your job is just to say yes to what I recommend". And, absolutely no feeling of being rushed or hurried out of the appointment. In both cases, I felt I had as much time as we needed to consider and discuss everything and reach resolutions. No watching the clock on the wall or nurses/assistants knocking on the doors to intrude.

I continue to think BNH is a very good medical experience, although I also continued to find their prices for various things to actually be a bit above Bumrungrad's on an identical item-to-item comparison. But considering the difference in my experiences between the two, I'm not minding a bit.

But, in what might be a downer for the OP, upon my arrival to the hospital clinic, the very pleasant young lady who took my weight, blood pressure and temperature was indeed a nurses assistant -- not a full-fledged nurse. But, she seemed perfectly adequate for directing me to stand on the weight scale, and putting my arm in the blood pressure monitor, and telling me to open my mouth to put the thermometer inside.

But when it came time later for a routine blood test, it was an equally pleasant white-uniformed nurse who stuck me with the needle. Somehow, having that lady doing the deed, didn't make it hurt quite so much... I just looked at her, and tried not to think about the rest.

Sounds like a prime example of the need for the govt's pending 500 million baht Internet censorship plan.... Gotta keep that smut off the net...at least in Thailand...

Bully's Pub near Suk 4 always has a buffet, usually well reviewed....

And, last year, I ate at the Atrium Cafe at the Landmark Hotel between Sois 4 and 6, which is a great atmosphere, very good service and enormous selection. No skimping on anything, and continually well-stocked.

Last year, the Landmark was having a 40 or 50% off promotion if you used a Platinum visa card. So I think the original price of their Thanksgiving buffet was at or above 1000 baht per person, but ended up down around 600 baht that day after the discount, which was a very good deal.

Haven't checked yet on their pricing for this year, or if any related promotions are running.

Hopefully, Teacup, that's why we're here on TV... to occasionally share helpful and accurate information with each other... I think that more than makes up for all the other c**p that sometime occurs...

Just in the past couple days, I booked direct with EVA's website a return flight from LA to BKK arriving back here on Dec. 31... I could have booked a day earlier or any of a couple days later thru Jan 5-6... I didn't check any further out than that...

Just fyi, EVA appears to have one of their seasonal price changes for this route that takes effect Jan. 5... So any initial flight out of L.A. prior to Jan. 5 will have a somewhat higher rate, and then a somewhat lower rate after Jan. 5... (the end of their "holiday" period pricing).

But in my case, it made more financial sense to return earlier, particularly since the flight was still available this year. The airline ticket itself may cost $100+ more because of the holiday pricing. But I more that recoup that amount by not having additional hotel night stays at pretty pricey L.A. rates... Plus, wanted to be back in BKK for New Year's Eve!!!

You just can’t look it up, YOU have to buy it….costs around $15-30 - depending on what it is for, and who’s ordering it.

There are 3 main companies, I think they are….

Experion, Equifax, and Trans Union====they basically run your life!!….

Well we are talking about normal/ everyday people here

Well that’s if you still need any loan for any reasons

and…

Most people know their score when they applying for certain jobs that requiring credit report, applying home mortgage, renting an apartment, etcs. Or you can just buy directly from these agency,…just go to their websites.

Teacup, U.S. citizens are entitled, under federal law, to request a free copy of their credit reports individually from those three agencies once a year, or, if you are denied some credit on the basis of info in your credit reports...

The link is here: www.annualcreditreport.com

But, for the record, since this service is for U.S. folks, the site wants to see a U.S. IP address in order to give you access, something that can be accomplished without too much trouble, even if one is living here in LOS.

This approach is different than the one offered directly thru the three private agencies, where they are in the business of SELLING you access to credit report info along with all kinds of other "security" and credit protection services...

As an example, here's the text that appears on Experian.com's home page...

IMPORTANT INFORMATION: This offer is not related to the free credit report that you are entitled to under federal law. To obtain that report, you must go to www.annualcreditreport.com. The free credit report and score offer above requires enrollment in a trial of Triple AdvantageSM. Cancel anytime during the 7-day trial period* and pay nothing. Otherwise, you will be billed just $14.95 for each month that you continue your membership.

To VegasV... Not sure who all you're directing your comments to.... But I think what you said above doesn't conflict at all with the views I expressed here...

Sorry Jing, I'm NOT confident about anything when it comes to real estate in the U.S., and I didn't say I was...

But, there are a variety of things happening.. the U.S. govt is heading toward/considering some kind of foreclosure relief measure, the initial wave of subprime loan-related foreclosures is already in the system and frankly, with all the trouble banks are having, they're not really anxious right now to be taking on all kinds of additional distressed/foreclosed properties to add to their balance sheets.

So, my guess is, even if the economy continues to worsen, which it probably will for some time, I repeat, my guess is, the worst/largest collection of the foreclosures are already in the pipeline and getting handled one way or the other.

Does that mean that I think or said housing prices are going to rebound next year... NO... I didn't say that at all... just that the volume of foreclosures probably has already reached its peak..

About values, my first owned house in the U.S. was purchased just before the real estate crash of 1989, which was a pretty big one in Southern California. It was a great house and we enjoyed living there for almost 10 years. It was our home, not so much an investment. But nonetheless when we finally had to move a decade later, the house's market value was HALF of what we had paid originally...and that was TEN years later.

However, up until last year, the value of that same house, then 15-17 years after our original purchase, was probably double what we had paid back in 1989... Today, it's probably back to about what we paid back then. Unfortunately, we finally HAD to move after 10 years. It would have been great if we could have held on another 5-7 years more. But life didn't happen that way.

Jing, one third of all houses FOR SALE in a given time (such as now) being foreclosures is a different thing, of course, from one third of all houses being foreclosed on or facing foreclosure. I think the current percentage of such sales in the L.A. or So. Cal. area is even a higher share lately.

Many people who are NOT facing foreclosure, of course, are not likely to be putting their homes on the market now, because the prices have become so depressed. So they're waiting for a better time to look to sell, unless they really have to now. Thus, the people who HAVE to sell now, at the worst time, are those in trouble. Thus foreclosures are amounting, at present, to a large portion of all current listings or actual sales (again, because the lowest prices are likely to attract buyers more quickly).

I think that, like other bubbles of late, is likely to work its way thru the real estate market in the coming months. If I still had a home ownership in the U.S., I'd certainly not be looking to sell now at or near the bottom of the market, but instead hoping for things to come back at least somewhat to minimize my loss or maximize my gain. Fortunately, in my case, I got out while the getting was good... Wheeeewww......

Apart from the newspaper ad, as a registered Air Asia passenger, I always get their e-mail promotions, and received the one on this in my email last week. Same details as discussed above.

I would have liked to book something, but now is November, and trying to anticipate my non-essential air travel plans for a ticketing period past the middle of next year seemed to be a bit dicey....even for a good deal. Just too far off into the future to work for me.

But their promotions like this always have the same catch: the quoted prices don't include general taxes or the hefty airport surcharge at Suvarnabhumi on the outbound leg. So depending on your destination, you can figure to start at 1000+ baht per ticket and work upwards from there.