menorah

A letter from Thai Immigration or local Amphur will suffice, although the latter will require a signature from a guarantor.

Sitting a formal test normally isn't asked of anyone from Europe, in possession of a current full driver license. I only needed to take a 'test' to prove reaction speed. It lasted a few seconds and I passed : )

Incidentally, my 1 year license lapsed a full 10 months before I realised. I went to the license office with relevant documentation and was issued a new license with 6 full years validity and no penalty for late renewal. Result !

it seems clear the confusion is the fault of poor translation of the original Thai legal jargon into English or else the original Thai wording was hopelessly constructed...anyone's guess.

Suffice to say, submit a sole account with 800,000 baht and thereby 'tie-up' less finance in the Thai banking system. The 'Follow on' for a wife seems more practical.

It would be great if they also could clarify if people on a retirement visa is supposed to pay tax on their pensions!

Thailand has no reciprocal tax agreement with UK, other EU states may differ......best keep quiet lest you 'open a can of worms' !

Yingluck seeks House dissolution

This won't be her decision, as we all know,...

Unlike yourself..... for those of us who do not 'have the Prime Ministers ear' or form part of some 'Illuminati inner Sanctum', this announcement makes obvious sense.

To have continued with things as they were would invite further unrest and possible loss of life....something neither the government or the opposition really wanted.

To have given way to a ' people's committee', would have been undemocratic, not least of all since it would have no electoral mandate.

Given these facts, Yingluk made the only decision possible and without requiring the help or advice of her brother

"Thaksin thinks, Phuea Thai acts". You have forgotten their campaign slogan?

Thanks in has made it abundantly clear that he's the Big Man in charge. You must be living in fairyland to believe otherwise.

Nice try but 'The Captain is only in control of the ship...when he's standing on the bridge'.

Why your expectations of this government should be so much higher than those of any previous government of Thailand, are beyond me.

Until there is a fundamental change in the virtue and honesty of the electorate and politicians, it really makes very little difference to the outcome of governance by any incumbent political party.

Yingluck seeks House dissolution

This won't be her decision, as we all know,...

Unlike yourself..... for those of us who do not 'have the Prime Ministers ear' or form part of some 'Illuminati inner Sanctum', this announcement makes obvious sense.

To have continued with things as they were would invite further unrest and possible loss of life....something neither the government or the opposition really wanted.

To have given way to a ' people's committee', would have been undemocratic, not least of all since it would have no electoral mandate.

Given these facts, Yingluk made the only decision possible and without requiring the help or advice of her brother

You are entitled to that view, but I am willing to offer odds of 10:1 that she got his advice whether she wanted it or not.

Yingluck seeks House dissolution

This won't be her decision, as we all know,...

Unlike yourself..... for those of us who do not 'have the Prime Ministers ear' or form part of some 'Illuminati inner Sanctum', this announcement makes obvious sense.

To have continued with things as they were would invite further unrest and possible loss of life....something neither the government or the opposition really wanted.

To have given way to a ' people's committee', would have been undemocratic, not least of all since it would have no electoral mandate.

Given these facts, Yingluk made the only decision possible and without requiring the help or advice of her brother

You are entitled to that view, but I am willing to offer odds of 10:1 that she got his advice whether she wanted it or not.

...well, isn't that typical in any family. I remember people telling me not to come to Thailand, but I did anyway ! I don't see the value of the point you're trying to make.

This has to be a 'first' on TV.....2 pages of post, so far, with balanced advice devoid of all the usual contentious crap. If OP doesn't make an informed decision, based on this information, I'll start eating Papaya Pok Pok with crab legs !

It's not that difficult to get a single entry visa ..... you don't say waht country your from, but I'll just assume it's the U.k. (they seem to be the majority in those who don't know how to get visas from a thai consulate, so i'll assume you are a Brit).

Unless you have a criminal record (which you probably don't or you wouldn't have been allowed into Thailand your first time).

Anyhow you very likely will be able to get at least a single entry tourist visa to Thailand by going to a Thai consulate .... whichever one is nearest to you.

That single entry tourist visa can be extended for another 30 days at immigration in Thailand .... wherever your staying.... for a 1900 Baht fee for the extension.

The 60 days you get on entry with that visa and the 30 day extension in Thailand you get will give you a 90 day stay in Thailand.

After 90 days you will be much more experienced in Thailand, at least.

Points of advice ......

1. Buying property in Thailand...... not sure what you mean .... but you, as a foriener are NOT EVER going to allowed to own LAND in Thailand. You are allowed to buy a condo .... if you can afford it..... but you will NEVER own a house and land in Thailand. There may be ways you can jease the land your house is built own .... but forget the idea you can as a foriegner can OWN the land. It won't happen legally.
2. Not to be unkind, but there are thousands od stories about a person who met a "nice Thai woman" on a trip to Thailand and a large majority turn out very badly .... with the foriegner losing money. You have been warned.
3. Most Thai lawyers have no idea about getting foriegners visas .... because Thais don't need one to enter Thailand. Anyhow, if you simply follow the immigration preceedures you usuall do NOT NEED a lawyer.
4. Opening a bank account is possible.... but as another posted correctly said.... you may have to do a bit of searching to find a bank that will open one. Frankly, that's because most Thai bank clerks simply don't know what to do to open aa bank account for a foriegner ,,,,, and they sinply don't want to admit to the foriegner that they don't know how to do it, It has alot to do with the Thai desire not to "lose face" by admitting they may be wrong.

Yes... Brits are inept, yanks are conceited, Aussies are course, Swedes all alcoholics etc etc....your pretension and generalisation is uncalled for.

The OP admits to lacking experience and having 'fallen' for one of the numerous Thai 'princesses', and thereby not in full control of his faculties!

No doubt you were born knowing all there was to know about these issues and if not researched everything first. I'm sure the OP has done some of his own homework but also knows first hand advice from 'old hands' can be a short cut to useful tips.

Where I do agree with you is regarding land ownership, something foreigners in Thailand can only dream about.

However, Usufruct Agreements can be made and the Thai legal services are fully aware of these. The following links help explain things more : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Usufruct http://kbs-properties.com/support/propertylaw

In common with other foreigners living in Thailand and having experience over a 'longer time frame,' of life, culture and relationships, I would caution against any immediate or near future plan to invest large sums of money in Thailand.

First, take time to really get to know your GF before making 'concrete' plans involving investment. Many foreigners come 'unstuck' in relationships here either because the GF is or was a bar girl. There are occasional 'gems' among them but they are rare. Another pitfall is attempting to use accepted 'western' cultural thinking to negotiate, compromise or reconcile differences of opinion, attitudes or behaviour.....it rarely 'computes'.

Second, the attraction of, 'apparent freedom' to realise any business venture or personal dream, without the usual bureaucratic formalities, can lead to a lack of better judgement.

Consider the number and frequency of Thai or foreign business ventures, which begin and fail at alarming speed, this should should tell you something.

I'm a 'Brit' in my 12th year of experience and have weathered marriage, house building, children, separation, divorce, return to UK, return to Thailand, reincarnation, new relationship, meticulously considered investment and a current 5 year 'partnership' with prospect for long term life here.

It wasn't easy at first, during or even to this day....but, if I'm able to realise 'my goal', which is within sight now, I can and will enjoy a lifestyle beyond anything I can have in The UK.

Proceed with caution and then, only if you possess reserves of tenacity, patience, flexibility, will power and strength of character . Thailand is not for the feint hearted.

An exception to the above but not a guarantee, is having so much money you can indulge any whim and 'move on' at any time you're unhappy with a relationship or how a venture is going.

Best of BRITISH luck whatever you choose to do.

Why should a falang married to a thai be treated any different from what i have seen thai woman seem to cost more to keep than a falang wife think it is time to move onto the next door neighbours Malaysia, Cambodia or even the Philippines.

You move 'next door' then and let us all know how you get on !

Like it or not, this is the rule since 2008 and the Thai government, or any government for that matter, aren't required to explain their reasoning to every Tom, Dick or Harry.

A 747 can fly upside down. But it is not recommended. However this clip is bogus of course.

I can't speak for the 747 but do agree some 'medium and heavy' aircraft can fly inverted.

Air frame designers try to factor in any flight scenario during design of the aircraft.

Certainly it's desirable for planes to fly normally but it's also desirable for aircraft to remain intact if something catastrophic happens which might initiate unforeseen flight behaviour. Inversion or cork screwing induce phenomenal stress loading on the wings and fuselage, so flight may not be prolonged !!

I liked the post which stated wing design meant an inverted aircraft would necessarily plummet to earth.

As pointed out, aircraft only gain flight when sufficient thrust forces air around and under the wing to create lift. Since air is present during normal flight or inversion, it's therefore logical for flight to be possible either way,albeit trim would be reversed, as would column control, to avoid said plummeting !

Still, this was a nice piece of trickery that got a few of us thinking.

I am always appalled at the vast majority of foreigners living permanently or quasi-permanently in Thailand and yet being completely illiterate. I have met almost none who could read Thai, when it does not take that long to learn. Most of them can blabber a couple sentences in Thai in such a horrible accent that only bar girls can understand. Very few are able to speak basic conversational Thai. I am sure that a vast majority of them would cringe at foreigners coming to their countries and refusing to learn their language. So why can't foreigners in Thailand learn to read and speak?

wow you enrolled in a language school.. good on you

Shakespeare had you in mind when he wrote....."The lady doth protest too much, methinks." Albeit, you may not in fact be a lady or even a woman !

Your assertion as to the size of this 'problem or shortcoming', is a generalisation borne out of your superiority. I live in the north west and have encountered plenty of 'have a go' expat's, some fluent, some awful but none the less commendable for making the effort.

I doubt more than a few Thais are concerned enough to cringe at this illiteracy, not least of all since many Thais leaving school can neither read or write Thai.

From personal experience, the number of Thais who immediately shy away when a foreigner approaches a sales desk, or shop assistant leaves many foreigners wondering why they should even consider making the effort.

Countless times Thais have giggled and uttered, " Fung mai lieu lian" (sorry, poor phonetic Thai as I can't write in Thai) when I've ordered petrol or asked a price in store. Normally I respond by saying I didn't realise they were from Lao, which strangely they then comprehend.

What so ever, it's up to the individual. Live and let live.

I fear everyone is being a tad hard on the 'little lady'. She's entitled to sound off occasionally....so let's not get overexcited if her tirade isn't the most complimentary toward the resident foreign GDP.

About to complete her PhD and doubtless gain prestigious employment overseeing the indigenous labour market as it performs wonderful things under her tutelage. Time and tide will soften her jagged edges and educate her to the reality of her world, although, perhaps reality is behind the 'sour face' !

Whatever the case, as she moves from years of study and finally into the labour market, she will have the pick of employment from a plethora of innovative, vibrantly successful avant guarde internationally placed Thai corporations.

So, raise your glasses and join with me in a toast to the 'ugly duckling' as she blossoms into a beautiful, successful, Thai Swan with all its inherent balanced mentality.

.....to the ugly duckling....cheers. : )

This reads like a TROLL but whatever....

the guilty party is the Thai government, or at least that echelon of Thai Society that 'holds court' over the other 98% and simultaneously provides a level of education designed to perpetuate stupidity of the masses and then re enforce that catastrophe with Channel 7 Thai Drama brain-washing each evening for 2 hours at a stretch.

So some Thais flush before pissing or don't flush after shitting, for whatever reason they behave like this, it's of no real importance in the scheme of things.

Good quality basic education where students are encouraged to question their teaching, environment, society and culture is the key to resolving most, if not all the issues which confound, frustrate and confuse us farang.

As mentioned by another TV member...ignoring how 'they' behave but maintaining one's own personal standards may, by some measure initiate a positive response by 'them' and thereby bring about change by 'passive' example.

One small tip to OP...

before 'binning' the hundreds of plastic bags collected each day, try knotting them a couple of times. This does at least prevent them blowing everywhere once the recycle guys and street dogs have tipped out the bin contents during the night !

I'm guessing the pool is something you personally desire, rather than your wife, since Thais are reluctant to swim without T shirt and denim shorts as standard attire !

However, if she's as keen on swimming as yourself, I'd advise the simplest effective water treatment system with the least technology that could go wrong.

Assuming your wife does outlive you and doesn't fill in the pool with you in it, to save on funeral expenses, then she may be happy to retain a pool which is inexpensive and reliable. If it's unreliable and breaks down most Thais have little motivation to effect repairs with money they could be spending on a new car !

I've no experience of pool economics but if you were able to use solar panels in the design this might help slash costs and even provide excess supply to the household.

12,000 units per year equates to about B 16,700 gross per unit, and to be competitive in the market place, against say Keeway, it looks likely to retail at about 60,000 baht.

As mentioned in other posts, 'Made in Thailand' is by no means a guarantee of quality. I also agree the overall appearance of the machine is reminiscent of a past era and may not find an appreciative audience.

If the machine isn't designed to cope with the demanding terrain of a typical Thai roadway it will soon fall foul of the many potholes, bumps, crevices and surface debris. A  sturdy construction coupled with robust mechanical engineering is a necessity if The Stallion is to succeed.

I recently came 'unstuck' and floored my 9 year old TA 200, admittedly it has a crash bar but even so, the only damage was a broken NS rear indicator & armature and a crumpled chromed side trim.

Cost to reinstate as new, a total of  B 1450 inclusive of oil change, a quick check-over, plus collection from house and return... since my foot was broken in 4 places ! If the Stallion can withstand the same punishment it might have a chance.

Hi Sophie,

from my male perspective, I would favour obtaining the most comprehensive visa available or for that matter seeking residency.

Irrespective of the possible pitfalls of this or any other interracial marriage, there may be pre-existing benefits or benefits in the future upon which you may later be able to draw.

As a previously married foreigner to a Thai wife, I enjoyed zero benefits from my visa and I'm sure you're aware that Thailand central government isn't the most embracing of foreign governments. That said, I believe it may hold a more lenient view with regard to a farang wife.

Bearing in mind the Thai 'mantra' of family cohesion, it would appear very counterproductive to Thai image if a legally resident, married judicious foreign woman, was forcibly separated from her Thai child and husband over some technicality or subsequent change to Thai immigration law.

Assuming you have tangible experience of Thailand;...living, working, language; both verbal & written and are in no sense 'running away from your past', then you have every chance of making a success of things....even more so if your partner is supportive, encouraging, hugely patient and damn good looking : )

I hesitate to include love too early in the text as, from experience I can vouch that no matter how much you love someone it helps exponentially more if you know them too !

Best of luck whatever you decide to do.

Why add the caveat "thai" to provinces.

Which international provinces could it spread to?

TIt serves to inform readers the protests have spread from Bangkok's Districts further and into the provinces.

NB: if you research the function of a caveat, then the use of the word 'Thai' acts as a qualification or clarification of the facts and is therefore correctly used. The article is passively warning the troubles have spread from Bangkok & its districts and into the provinces.

Caveat stems from Latin and is essentially a warning....

• Caveat lector ("let the reader beware")
• Caveat emptor ("let the buyer beware")
• Caveat venditor ("let the seller beware")

Tourists to Thailand may well take heed regarding travel, being aware the Thai provinces are now affected.

All of these replies are foolish. Whether the value of the dog is 20 Baht or a million Baht, if you have proper insurance you are insured for damages you cause with your car. Do what you would do if you damaged someone's Mercedes. Call the insurance and let them sort it out. The insurance investigator will probably suss the woman out in minutes.

Haha. Do ya think so !!!

THE END

Of a shaggy dog story.

Your personal guilt feelings are punishment enough. The next consideration is....WHAT WOULD A THAI HAVE DONE ?

Answer: same as you did but without regret and with absolutely no compunction about lying through the teeth denying any involvement in the incident

Behave like The Mafia....not the wishy-washy Thai version, the real Mafia, as in Cosanostra. They killed and still kill but absolve themselves of their sin by attending Sunday Mass and making a confession.

Even if you're not RC, why not try your luck anyway and spill the beans to The man in Black !

Your wife might be placated if you tell her you honestly believe the dog was possessed by an evil spirit trying to create problems at your home and in the neighbourhood. God knows there's enough of them about.

20,000 baht...this woman knows what a soft touch you are and reckons you're a farang and therefore fair game to exploit. Offer her 100 baht to go away while simultaneously coughing your lungs up all over the baht.

One last thing, remember, innocent until proven guilty, so wash the car down if necessary : )

The Americans term it, the "British Invasion" ...

That term was used during the 50's and 60's in reference to the Beatles, the Rolling Stone, the Who, et al and their impact on the US music industry. It had nothing to do with the unwashed masses of baked-beans-on-toast bargain seeking tourists.

Nearly right, but in fact the 'British Invasion' in the music world was a mid-1960s event - 1950s ? - you must be a young person, that is way too early in the history of pop and rock, at which point in time all the influence was the OTHER way round, from the US to the UK via the importing of vinyl.

When it comes to rock and roll, Americans invented it, but the English perfected it and I am American.

Ulysses...

I had a jibe at you further up the 'post' but have just read to the end of your post and necessarily find myself 'eating humble pie, not musically but rhetorically.

The English, or more properly British did play a huge part in making R&R what it eventually became. But none of us can really take the honours for a musical style that reflected the highs and lows, aspirations and emotions of differing cultures and societies from across the globe.

Without doubt it did first mutate in America from an embryonic version of what was later to be recognised worldwide and which sprang directly from black African Americans.

The ingredient which 'sealed' its place in history does seem to be the inflections originating from British musicians, who perhaps were forced to draw upon deeper imagination to conjure up the panoramic imagery that existed around Americans for hundreds and thousands of miles in every direction.

The poor old Brits were lumbered with overcast landscapes like Birmingham,Sheffield, Glasgow or Merthyr Tydfill and hemmed in by a coastline never further than 75 miles distant.

I've never heard a Scotsman, a Welshman nor an Irishman refer to themselves as 'a Brit'. Ever. Only the PC overloaded ENGLISH

You should get out more!

... only because he didn't understand the accents. Anyway, there are plenty of indigenous Scots, Welsh and N.Irish who're .....reads a bit like Scottish for Whore as said by Jimmy Connolly...... who are happy to be called Brits, most can be found in the respective unilateral parliaments and in particular The Finance Office of same, especially when the funds from LONDON central government arrive to keep 'the ship afloat' for another year !

As for PC overloaded ENGLISH is that any fault of ours? Just try voting and see if you can spot the

difference...assuming you have a right to vote anyway.

And, as previously said....try getting out more !

Menorah, are you sure about Tinners Ale? Tribute is seen as the best of St Austell's ales. All this reminiscing is making me want to take a trip.

Tribute is a great pint but Tinners brings back fond memories of The Mount Ambrose Inn, at Mount Ambrose just outside Redruth...where, incidentally, a small earthquake managed to do a million £'s worth of good !!

Anyway, my then f-in-law, a lovely Tottenham man, exiled to Canterbury by order of his soon to be wife, used to drink there. Initially he was wary of the Cornish being stand-offish but needn't have worried. Two weeks after moving into the 99.9% Cornish enclave, he was 'made up' with new and very sincere friends who subsequently, would 'walk on hot coals' for him ! Such was the character of the man.

I too would dearly love a trip back, not least because \my daughter just had my first g/child, still with luck I may make her 21st birthday!

The Americans term it, the "British Invasion" ...

That term was used during the 50's and 60's in reference to the Beatles, the Rolling Stone, the Who, et al and their impact on the US music industry. It had nothing to do with the unwashed masses of baked-beans-on-toast bargain seeking tourists.

Nearly right, but in fact the 'British Invasion' in the music world was a mid-1960s event - 1950s ? - you must be a young person, that is way too early in the history of pop and rock, at which point in time all the influence was the OTHER way round, from the US to the UK via the importing of vinyl.

When it comes to rock and roll, Americans invented it, but the English perfected it and I am American.

Oh dear ! The Americans invented Rock & Roll.

I don't want to get involved in a lecture on the history and origins of a musical style that is an amalgam of several pre existing styles and by no means, directly attributable to Black African American people via Gospel music, Rythm & Blues and Country.....so I won't.

I was in Newquay recently. Very disappointing. Took tea in Lynmouth that afternoon, I find Devon far nicer than Cornwall.

Newquay is a shit hole. You need to go further West, to see real Cornwall. I agree though North Devon is also a beautiful part, but using Newquay to compare against Lynmouth as an example is a poor one.

I will head further West next time. I just find Cornwall a bit barren, I'll spend more time there. A day on the A39 popping into the various coves on the way is just the best day out. None of it's far from good old Weston-super-Mare in any case. Although it is a long way from Roi-Et . . . sadly.

I took this picture at Appledore that day, where I spent childhood summers living in Irsha Street.

I quite liked Fowey

I recommend you set up your own forum, Grockles & Emmets Ahoy ! aimed at ex-pats wandering down memory lane !

But, while we're on a roll, I disagree with Newquay being a shithole, there are far far worse seaside locations able to do better justice to the claim.

I had a 'foot in both camps', Devon & Cwll and the two counties are dramatically different but each with their own virtues.

Regarding Beer down south (earlier post) Tuckers Maltings in Newton Abbot, produce a fine range of quality beers and St Austell brewery has an equally good selection of brews....beware there Tinners Ale, it can creep up on you before you know it.

And, getting back to OP, I agree with others that this is a load of tosh written while sitting in the khazi whilst waiting for something to happen