oldgeezer

I just completed an internet search on various goods, comparing Thai prices with those on Amazon.com. For those interested and may not already know, nearly all of the items priced were at least double those found in Thailand. Comparisons were made on dozens of goods, from automobiles to chair casters.

One cannot compare quality, but most of the goods researched come from the far east, and not the U.S. so one would think shipping was not the issue.

Examples:

Toyota Camry hybrid, 1.8 million baht ($60,000) in Thailand, $30,000 in U.S., plus or minus depending upon options. Chair casters appear to be the same model, $55 in Thailand $24 in U.S. Imported foodstuffs seem to be three times that of U.S. as imported from there.

Does anyone else have info that may account for these differences?

Thanks for the time reading.

Am I missing something here? What would the data look like if one were to include women?

The national rule for first time extensions in Thailand is no medical check required and also no police report required. Some people hand them in and nothing is said and then the applicants assume they were required when they weren't, and there may also be a few provincial offices requiring medical reports and not following the national rule. But generally, no, absolutely NOT required now.

Probably a pedantic point, but really folks, an O-A visa is no more "proper" than an extension of a regular O based on retirement.

For my first 5 retirement extensions, I was required to get a letter from my bank. This was a very big pain as it required an additonal trip to town. I had to go in the main branch in BKK and request a letter. Then go back in the afternoon to pick up the letter, as the executive who had to sign only signed once a day.

The last extension, I was told I no longer needed a bank letter, and that proved to be true. Can anyone tell me what purpose this letter served. I do not use my bank deposit to fulfill the requirement, only the monthly income.

When I first retired in Thailand, the 65,000 baht equalled about $1550. Now it is the equivalent of $2170 a month. If they dont change the requirement, and if the baht gets much stronger, I will no longer qualify for a retirement extension.

Has anyone heard talk of changing the amount required for a retirement visa?

Costs of International school are very high. Not unusual to pay 200,000 baht and up per semester plus large registration and other fees. Other than the price, the two thais I know personally that have attended intl schools speak near perfect english and seem to be well educated.

If one can afford it, and get good references on the school it would be much preferable to public.

I went in last week to extend my retirement visa. In the door at 9 AM and out at 9:45 with new stamp. Everyone very courteous and helpful.

You can readily buy sod at about 20 baht per square meter. Thats a guess based upon my purchases about 2 years ago.

Lets see who's first!

Taxi is cheapest. Not far from Victory Monument. Wife says about 50-60 baht?

I'm confused. If you have an account overseas, why would you not have him send the money to that account?

It may be an issue even in relation to the initial purchase, much less repatriating the money. If it's a substantial amount of money, I would want to be squeaky clean.

Also be prepared for some large fees, from your bank, the thai bank that owns the machine, and a really lousy exchange rate and a premium on top of that, it is a handy method of getting cash, not very cost effective though.

Better to use a debit card which means you only pay the ATM fee and no fees at your home bank. Also, you may want/need to have your bank raise your daily withdrawal limit.

I would be interested in knowing which banks do not charge fees for international ATM withdrawals.

Sorry this will probably not help if your problem is a short term one, but my wife successfully grew Habaneros with seeds our daughter shipped over from U.S. Had them running out of our ears but took about 6 weeks as I recall.

A good alternative is Bicarbonet of Soda. The only problem is I don't where you can buy that.

A good pharmacy should have Epsom Salts. They may stock it by its chemical name, Magnesium Sulphate.

Dont know what you mean by karaokes or similair.

There are places on Sri nakarin rd that may come under the heading similair, these are Thai style places and are not for those looking for cheap drinks and company.

On On Nut rd there are karaoke joints, a bottle of Chang will cost you 400 baht.

There are also Thai style bars on On Nut rd where farangs gather and are welcome.

There is a German(?) style restaurant and bar down beside the junction of On Nut and Sri nakarin rd, decent prices.

Dont know where in the Suan Luang area you are so dont know which direction to point you, are you near Khlong Tan or Pattanakharn?

I've tried a few clubs, but noisy and $100 for a bottle of whiskey I don't drink. I am not far from On Nut on Chaloem Prakiet. Where are thai style bars you mention on On Nut?

I used to go to Cowboy and such every few months, but frankly I'm bored and burned out on that style. Looking for something closer to home I can use as neighborhood bar.

Thanks for the response. I appreciate your help.

I live in Suan Luang area and don't much like to go into town to socialize and have a couple of drinks. Does anyone know of karaokes or similar in the Sri Nahkarin or Chaloem Prakiet areas that are both comfortable with and welcoming of farangs?Thanks all.

Please be aware:

I believe MB (capital letters) refer to Megabytes. Mb refers to Megabits. 8 megabits make 1 Megabyte.

For instance, If you are testing .67 Mb, multiply by 8 and that gives you 5.36 MB. the value quoted when being sold

That would be 5 or 6 times your previous package.

However, bandwith will ultimately determine your internet speed.

I believe this is correct. But this is what I have been told and I'm certainly no expert.

I don't pretend to be typical, but would trust many other expats are in a similar situation:

American

Married to Thai for 28 years

Retired in Thailand 6 years so far

Plan to live out our life here

Will always qualify under monthly income requirements

Wife will receive my benefits upon my death

Spend 98% of my retirement income in Thailand

Whether one chooses to define it as Permanent Residency, citizenship or whatever, it is not complicated for me. My suggestions would entail:

No yearly extensions to retirement visa

No 90 day reporting

No re-entry permits

Perhaps the government could start out slowly in this manner and progress to the more complex questions.

I can't imagine how that would harm or offend any Thai citizens, nor why I should pay more than a minimal administration fee for the benefit.

Once one starts adding in work permitting, taxes and company ownership requrements, it becomes many orders of magitude more complicated.

Sorry for my ignorance, but what is a Swede?

This guy is bad, because the USA tell us that he is bad. Have we heard from the USSR side? No.

A long and interesting story of Victor Bout and the international arms business.

http://www.nytimes.com/2003/08/17/magazine/17BOUT.html?ei=5070&en=64107baa91d5594e&ex=1237521600&pagewanted=all&position=

From Bangkok, about 8 hours by car or train. 9-10 by bus. Couple of hotels in town 600-1000 baht and some resorts (st type), 400B.

Wife made third trip to SriNakharin Villa. They remembered her right away. Cant say too much about their stock.

Brits may not appreciate, but she came home with Johnsonville Smoked brats, pre-made frozen pie crusts, Johnsonville breakfast sausages, many cheeses and baby back ribs.

And only 2 km from my moo baan. Heaven

On the subject of UBC anyone noticed that since monday all the programme synopsis have changed from English to Thai?

Must have had complaints from the Thai viewers that they could not understand what the films are about.

looks like UBC's foriegn customer base is dwindleing

Mine are still in English. You sure by accident you did not change the language setting?

Thats strange.....I never touched anything...I'll get my Wife to give 'em a call tomorrow.

Thats a great way to waste a few hours of her time

Have your wife set it back to english.....

Easy to redo yourself

Menu

Setup

Languages

1st Language-set to english

For those that live out this way:Wife just got back from Paradise Park, formerly Seri Center on Sri Nakharin.New Villa Market open. Very big with lots of farang foodstuffs and staff that actually know what they are selling.

You say you need to be in Pak Chong but dont want to drive from Khao Yai. My wife is a bit confused. She is from Korat and says Pak Chong is much closer to Kao Yai than Korat.

Sorry if we misunderstood.

"For the first time..........................". "WE have to solve it now". "How can WE heal the deep rift."

He spends 8 years here 20 years ago and considers Thailand his second home.

Utter politico-babble. In any case I don't think flying a kite will benefit a "work visit". But then again, TIT.

Go back to Germany and leave us in peace.