happyaussie

Planning on building a small guest accom on our land. Nothing too fancy but great views and gardens. Question is. My wife has a relative/contact from her village (which we live 500klms away, thankfully). Who is willing to do the work. Question is, how much. 

I thought best thing is to start at the bottom. Which supposedly is 300bht per day. Okay lets double that to 600bht. Oh no that won't be enough says the wife. After 10 years marriage I continue being the walking ATM.

The guy in question doesn't work. He'd make more in 3 months than he ever has, and not one cent out of his pocket. Transport, meals, accom and I know wife will supply him beers when needed. 

Most likely it will be him with couple of helpers (the ones that disappear for a few days after a night on the turps). 

If I can get a room, bathroom, outdoor verandah etc built for about 100,000 in labour I think I'd be doing okay.

I could go the prefab thing, but we like to make it a little unique and within keeping with the main property. 

Appreciate any suggestions.   

Not a problem at all. Done the trip several times. Depending on time of day allow 40 min from downtown Vientienne to border. 30min processing and crossing borders. Other side plenty of mini vans and taxi's/private cars. About 45min to Udon. Taxi around 500baht

Be careful, there are some great restaurants at the back of guest houses in town. But be careful of the ones further out of town where most tourists visit. Very hit and miss, expensive and crap service. But don't miss the coconut candy, cooked on the spot.

Loei is not a Farang orientated town. Chris's Steak & Pasta is a decent spot. But not really a bar. There's a couple of Discos as mentioned previously. But you and the odd English teacher maybe the only Farangs. Ice bar is a tiny bar around the corner from Chris's, run by an Aussie and his wife. Loei is sleepy, so don't expect raging night life.

Sounds like it wasn't a stock item. If so, I don't think you should expect a return / swap. Over time they'd end up with a lot of bits and pieces. Which takes up space.

But if it was a stock item, as a loyal customer they should have taken back and given you a credit.

Your lucky. I have gotten in trouble for putting the bamboo pointing in the wrong direction while building a fence thus bring bad luck on the whole family. Had to redesign the porch on for my new house because the posts did not lineup with the posts in the house--more bad luck. Dreams telling of future sickness, lucky numbers written on cucumbers. Anyway as long as the ML is alive, I also just go with the flow. Sometimes living here reminds me of Carlos Castaneda books.

I has similar experience when building. My ensuite bathroom and walk in robe became a Buddha room, bedroom configuration has to be changed so feet don't point a certain way, I even had to change the entire bathroom layout because the dunny was pointing the wrong way. Oh and everyone was an expert at determining which direction things should face. Trying times, but well worth it. A lot of respect for people with faith. I'm just a fence sitter.

A few weeks ago I asked for advice on internet access. I live in the Loei province and tried everything. Thanks to TA a subscriber came to my house to try the 3bb and TrueMove gadgets. Neither worked.

The good news is that CAT were able to help. With the thanks of a 30' receiver. We now have internet. And the speed isn't too bad. No slower than most coffee shops I've been forced to use.

Total cost was about 12,000bht installation and parts, plus 790bht per month, I think.

Hi I live just south of WS and I have just purchased a Truemove H 3G air card and it is fantastic cost 990 baht and 599 a month and is day and night better than my old AIS edge aircard and has the advantage that it is portable, pop in and see them in Tesco Lotus in Loei.

I enquired about this and apparently my signal isn't strong enough.

Are you sure, they told me the same thing, but I had already checked it out with a friend who already had an aircard and he tried it at my house and it had a full 5 bar signal, If you want pm me and I can bring mine to you and see if it works.

Wow that is very generous of you. Give me a few days and I'll get back to you.

3bb won't work. We're one km out of range. I'm pretty sure True move is the same story. CAT and I aren't friends so I have to discount that option. Unless there is another option my last chance will be getting a land line from TOT. Provided they have a lines where I am. What's strange is that I'm on a semi main road.

Still love to hear any other options.

Hi I live just south of WS and I have just purchased a Truemove H 3G air card and it is fantastic cost 990 baht and 599 a month and is day and night better than my old AIS edge aircard and has the advantage that it is portable, pop in and see them in Tesco Lotus in Loei.

I enquired about this and apparently my signal isn't strong enough.

Are you sure, they told me the same thing, but I had already checked it out with a friend who already had an aircard and he tried it at my house and it had a full 5 bar signal, If you want pm me and I can bring mine to you and see if it works.

Wow that is very generous of you. Give me a few days and I'll get back to you.

Hi I live just south of WS and I have just purchased a Truemove H 3G air card and it is fantastic cost 990 baht and 599 a month and is day and night better than my old AIS edge aircard and has the advantage that it is portable, pop in and see them in Tesco Lotus in Loei.

I enquired about this and apparently my signal isn't strong enough.

_{I live about 10km outside Loei and a few months ago had the new CAT wireless service installed. I get speeds of 30Mb/5Mb at a cost of Bt2500 per month. There are other plans available.}

_{I believe this service is also available in the Wang Saphun area or if not try to see if CAT will install fibre which a friend of mine outside Wang Saphun has recently had installed}

Thanks for your advice. I'll talk to CAT again.

Have you tested to see if True or AIS/1 2 call have a stronger signal?

Yeah a few weeks ago. Apparently there is a 3km radius. I'm 5km. So close, but so far....argh. I'm technologically challenged, hence the need for advice. Thanks for the thought.

Firstly my apologises for bringing up something that has been covered previously.

Here's my dilemma. I live approx 5km from Wang Suphung, near Loei. I am just out of range for TOT wifi and we have crap phone reception (behind a hill).

4 years ago I installed a CAT system with an antenna. It wasn't very successful. By memory it was about 12,000bht install and 700 but per month.

Knowing technology changes regularly I was wondering if anyone out there heard of any new services that may work.

Fingers crossed.

It's not exclusive to Thailand. A recent survey in Australia showed a major supermarket chain was selling the same products at different prices in different suburbs. Prices determined on affluence of that suburb or region.

Understanding the wealth and salary differences in Thailand, I have no problem paying a little more if signposted. Or if I consider the deal good value or fair. But I do dislike exorbitant farang pricing when buying items which haven't been tagged.

On a recent trip to Vietnam I lunched in a touristy seafood restaurant with menus without prices. Price was clearly determined by the colour of your skin. Even more prevalent when the order taker hums and ha's when asked the price. "Hmm, how much can I rip this guy off for"

I've build a house and lived in the Loei area for 5 years. However the last couple of years I've been away quiet a bit with business. I really love living in this part of Thailand. It's really quiet beautiful with mountains and plenty of vegetation.

But very little to do. No western bars etc.

50+ and you think you don't need health insurance, you must be nuts.

Well thats the plan - I'll see how it goes and let you know if anything drops off.

Perhaps my biggest worry living outside the UK is a traffic accident or being hit by someone crossing the road. I might take-out some accident coverage with a decent company.

Well good on you. Wishing you a long and healthy life.

50+ and you think you don't need health insurance, you must be nuts. How much is your health worth?

I'm 57 have never been sick and like most blokes I think I'm indestructible. But once people hit 50 you start to notice guys in similar age group dropping like flies. Not to mention all the various ailments.

Local hospitals maybe okay for short stays and relatively minor incidents. But anything more you'd be in more capable hands with a better environment in a private hospital. Prices are cheaper than home, but being private they know people are either well off or have insurance. Therefore their pricing reflects this.

By the way. I hate insurance companies. Their greed is simply confirmed by the fact that in any city or town in the world the biggest and best buildings are either insurance companies or banks......I also hate banks, but that's another story.

My response:

1. I don't drive a motorcycle so I do not need a helmet.

2. I put on my seat belt right after putting the key in the ignition.

3. I have a valid Thai driver's license which expires in 2017.

4. I don't need an international driver's license. See number 3 above.

5. I carry my original passport in a little sissy purse which accompanies me when I drive anywhere.

6. Both of my vehicles go through the required MOT tests annually.

Now I have a question for happyaussie.

Why does the Australian government not permit you to carry your camera to the beach? What is their rationale?

The rationale is to stop pervs taking pics of girls in bikinis and kids.

Another stupid rule in the media this week, is that Australian airlines won't let men sit next to unaccompanied children on a plane. Sound lke a nation of perverts and paedophiles.

On a recent trip back to OZ I was amazed at how much of a nanny state Australia has become. People with very nice cars limited to 100km per hour on fantastic multi lane duel carriage way roads. Your not even allowed to take your camera to the beach and take pics.

The do gooders will always play the "saving lives" card. Which is a difficult argument to contest. I agree 100% on drink driving but I'm sure better roads and better training are more important than revenue raising cameras and speed traps. Not to mention the improved safety of cars.

For me I like flexible rules and regulations. But as impossible at it seems, weeding out corruption in the Thai police would be a positive step. Control the drugs and various organized crime factions around the country and Thailand would be a much better place.

I'll stick my neck out here and say that I really enjoy driving in Thailand, roads a generally good. Multi lane duel carriage way in most areas. Even the B roads are quiet good. Don't have to worry too much about speed limits and cameras.

And yes, I have driven extensively and continue to do so. And yes, there are some maniacs and I frequently see some dangerous behaviour.

My only fears are 1) Buses and long haul trucks (most of those drivers are so wired on drugs it's no wonder they smash so much) 2) Unmarked road works 3) Killer pot holes

Oh I forgot to say - bikes and side cars with no tail lights at night.....scary

I'll stick my neck out here and say that I really enjoy driving in Thailand, roads a generally good. Multi lane duel carriage way in most areas. Even the B roads are quiet good. Don't have to worry too much about speed limits and cameras.

And yes, I have driven extensively and continue to do so. And yes, there are some maniacs and I frequently see some dangerous behaviour.

My only fears are 1) Buses and long haul trucks (most of those drivers are so wired on drugs it's no wonder they smash so much) 2) Unmarked road works 3) Killer pot holes

I'm a bit of a Honda fan but must say the new Accord looks old even before it's released.

All cars in this segment seem to have a similar look....boring.

Two years ago I taught my wife and was told by the authorities that there is no such thing as a learners permit. People are expected to learn in Temple or school grounds. This may answer some of the bad driving questions.

After a few lessons in back streets we ventured onto a multiple lane road (not busy). Got stopped at a checkpoint and told she cannot learn to drive on roads????? Must be some Thai logic in there somewhere.

Over the years I've taught a few people how to drive. So I applied the same methods and she became quiet good. Went for the test on the Motor Registries test track and realized I hadn't taught her to reverse for long periods (50/100m). Fortunately the instructor could tell that she was an okay student and let it slide.

The test is done in a group situation and quiet fun. But I was amazed how some students had zero idea on how to drive.

If you choose a school, be careful. The driving test is a standard test and most schools focus just on the test and nothing else. They produce people who can drive around a test circuit in a car park. But have no road skills what so ever.

End of the day my wife has become a good and confident driver