billd766

I have a Ford Ranger 4x4 double cab with a 2.5 turbo diesel engine that is 4 1/2 years old but no carry boy.

I have had it regularly serviced and it had done about 137,000km and I have had only a couple of problems in that time. The most serious was a steering problem that caused the n/s/f tyre to wear badly and that was fixed under warranty and the original remote alarm and the 3 following ones lasted less than 18 months, but they were not original Ford items.

Somebody stole the spare wheel and tyre so I bought a lock when I replaced it. I ordered a spare wheel and that is what I got, then of course I had to buy a tyre. TIT.

I changed 4 tyres at around 120,000 km and there was still a bit of tread left.

I get around 9 km/ltr overall.

I wish I could afford a new one as there is now a 3 litre turbo diesel with an auto gearbox but it is top of the range and around 900,000 baht.

My wife wants a people carrier next like the Kia Carens.

Dudes,

is any beautiful Thai girl (eye of the beholder). No where else on this planet do they come close. The total package! Sorry for sounding biased. I suffering from a bout of Thai Fever!!

Monty

Upon recieving a persuasive argument from my significant other (in the form of a massive ear twist), I have changed my mind again.

Most sexy woman alive is my wife.

I must admit to being biased and I have to agree with both pollsters but with no arguement from 'er upstairs (cos she is upstairs and not looking over my shoulder) I thought maybe I should post a picture of a Thai girlfriend I once fell in love with:

Thanks everybody for the information.

I can cook well enough to keep me happy but my wife dors most of the cooking.

Sometimes I just get the hankering for ..........

I have a shoulder of lamb in the freezer and a convection roaster which I last used 3 years ago but there is only me that would eat lamb.

I am in middle of trying to apply for a US visa for my spouse, and everything is on track... except for the latest blunder.

About 2 1/2 weeks ago I sent my spouse (who is in LOS) a form to sign. I just received it back from her today. It turns out that she has signed the form in the wrong place... I mean way off from where it should have been signed.

I have several choices:

1) Be content, and forward the form to US immigration folks and take my chances;

2) Bark at my spouse because her lack of attention;

3) Repeat the process again by sending her the form to sign, and smile like a Thai and whisper "mai pen rai" over and over again to myself.

How would you react if this were to happen to you?

If it were me then I would take option 3.

However as you sent her the form did you indicate where she should sign?

It isn't the end of the world.

As a matter of small interest how would you feel if the position were reversed?

I have signed Thai forms in the wrong place myself and felt stupid because I don't know Thai enough to read and write it fluently.

Quote rcm

Repeat the process but explain to her that she has to sign on the right place the next time....tell her also that the last signature was on the wrong Place and this is why everything is delayed (in a friendly tone). If she understands about the wrongdoing she will probably be very sorry about this.

it's just Paperwork.....not Life itself ,

rcm jap.gif

I would assume some of the other posters are being a little sarcastic and being perfect themselves, they of course would never make a mistake.

How can I make gravy without Bisto, Oxo cubes, gravy granules etc?

I live waaay up in the boonies and my nearest supermarket is Big C in Nakhon Sawan 125km away.

I am on AIS as it is better where I live than DTAC and there is nothing else.

My monthly post paid bill is around 2,000 baht but that does include about 500 a month for GPRS and around the same or more for CAT international billing.

how many hours of GPRS do you use a month?

I am on one of the GPRS pckages. 200 baht for 50 hours (3000 minutes for 200 baht aint all shabby!)... when GPRS was the only internet connection I had I used the 400 hours for 900 baht plan

Hi JD

I suppose I use around 90 to 100 hours a month as I use GPRS for Emails as well. I generally log on twice a day and I have found that the morning session (about 7 am) is much quicker than the evening (after 8pm).

I have just received this letter from AIS as I keep bitching about my connection.

Dear Mr.Bill

Valued Customer

Subject : Thank you for your feedback

Thank you Mr.Bill very much for your e-mail.

With regard to your e-mail, we would like to inform you that we are really sorry for answering your e-mail late. For the problem about GPRS connection, we would like to inform you that we sincerely apologize for the inconvenience that you have experienced about the problem. Presently, our network was back to the same quality prior to this incident and you can use your mobile phone as usual. Also, we are developing and expanding our network quality to support all of our customers' usage. Please be assured that we will do everything we can ensure your convenient usage consistenly. We are truly grateful to be your assistance and solve any problem that you might have on your mobile phone usage. Otherwise, we would like to recommend you to turn off your mobile phone for a while then turn on and try to connect GPRS again later. Besides, a list of location where no GPRS is enclosed. If you still experience any problem about setting, please contact us with the error and we will solve the problem for you.

We would like to thank you for the best relationship and the trust in our service. AIS will continue to provide the best service to our value customers and we hope that you will gain satisfaction from using our service. If there should be any concerns or suggestions, please do not hesitate to contact AIS Call Center 1148 or 02-271-9000 or click at http://www.gsmadvance.ais.co.th/contact/contact_en.asp or email us at [email protected] for 24 hours a day or you can go to http://www.gsmadvance.ais.co.th and select at "Online Call Center" (9.00 a.m. – 12.00 p.m. and 18.30 p.m. - 20.30 p.m.).

No GPRS in these southern bases

(Satellite Base Station)

P P Island

Yao Yai Island

Khao Sok

No GPRS in these northern bases

(Satellite Base Station)

Khun Wang Project

Pang Ung

Hi Lucky

It really depends on where you live and the proximity of the nearest base station AIS or DTAC.

I also live in a rural area about 60 km southwest of Khampaeng Phet with no landline though I have only been waiting 3 years. I use a Nokia 6260 and a Comsol Bluetooth adapter and a postpaid AIS package with 120 hours on the Internet for 500 baht and that works fine and stable for most of the time and I have been online for sometimes 4 hours at a time. There have been other times whenthe link has dropped out after a few minutes but not that often.

My connection status window tells me that I am getting 115Kbps but in truth it is more like a normal land line of between 35 to 48kbps.

It works OK for me and it may well work for you.

If your mobile is Bluetooth and you have a dongle and they are about 1,000 baht +/- it should work.

Now my questions:

- Is that established wireless connection stable ?

It depends on where you live.

- What speed does this connection posses (I was told it is only abt. 35kbs-56kbs) ?

That is about right

- Can I use any cellphone wit USB- port or are there any restrictions ?

The mobile does not have a USB port only the computer. You maybe able to Bluetooth, IR or hard wire cable the mobile to the pc.

- Is there an equivalent of the european UMTS- net for cellphones in Thailand ?

Unfortunately I don't think so.

- Can my NOKIA N- series cellphone from europe be updated for use with thai- language menu ?

You would have to go either to a Nokia dealer or MBK in Bangkok to know for certain.

I hope that this helps.

What do you think they get children to do at kindergarten? Load and uload sacks of rice into the trucks?

I was sent to kindergaden at 3yrs of age and those are my best memories. Although now dispersed from Alasaka to Australia, 7 out of 10 of my best lifetime friendships had formed exactly there - in the kindergarten and further with the same people through school and uni.

My baby was with nursery from 1.5yrs of age only 2 days a week. When she reached 2 yrs, the manager of the pre-school said that the girl is missiing a lot and that we should consider extending her stay. Since then, she is there 6 days a week, brings home songs and dances they thaught her there and all sorts of cute acts only a professional educators can give.

She is developing friendships and relationships with other kids, far better for her than kicking empty cans in dirt streets with idle and unsupervised children.

I know that children don't unload sacks of rice into trucks but that was not my point.

When I went to kindergarden in the UK over 50 years ago I was 5 years old and nobody went to prenursery school because it didn't exist. I spent 2 years in nursery, 4 years in junior school and 4 years in senior school. I didn't particularly enjoy school nor did I hate it.

I have no idea where any of the people I went to school with are now, probably living in the same town in a 3 bed semi detached house or a bungalow since their children have left home.

I left home at 15 1/2and joinexd the Royal Air force as a boy entrant and left at 40. My Dad died before I left school and my Mum died when I was 32 and I have only been back a few times since.

Most of my good friends were made in the military.

When I was young I used to play in the streets unsupervised as did most of my generation though my eldest son, now 28, wasn't really allowed to as the streets were much safer when I was young.

My main point was that I grew up in a warm loving relationship with my parents even though my Dad used to cuff me around the ear (as did policemen) if I was caught doing wrong.

I know that he will be going to pre nursery school soon but I want him to have something of a childhood first.

When I bought my Ford Ranger pick up 5 years ago the dealer threw in 1st class insurance and a few other things including I think road tax for a year.

However I was on the red number plates for a while and I had to rent them from the dealer.

The red number plates mean that you are restricted in speed, going out at night and a few more things but I was never stopped by the police and I have never seen anybody else stopped by them either.

I am on AIS as it is better where I live than DTAC and there is nothing else.

My monthly post paid bill is around 2,000 baht but that does include about 500 a month for GPRS and around the same or more for CAT international billing.

I am going to have a small rant as I get p1ssed of with so much negativity against Thais both from people living in and out of Thailand.

but are they in love?

I know for a fact that I am in love with my Thai wife.

Always comes down to $ ?

And how to you support the woman of your choice?

Yes indeed, all foreign husbands are great.......

....as long as they are paying!

Try not having any money back where you come from and see how long the relationship will last.

Is that a survey - I could find more people to talk to on the way to the nearest 7-11!

But could you find that many Thais married to farangs? Where I live I don't see that many in 2 weeks.

Give it a minute.

There are many posters here that will find something cynical (and ignorant) to say.

I don't know if this is cynical or ignorant, but they did only survey 12 people.

But they were 12 people who were married to Thais and in the same place.

little money = little respect

big money = big respect

gargantuan money = prime ministership

I take it that you have little money.

'love' is some quaint notion that Thais become peripherally aware of by watching TV or movies or reading books. Oh forgot, Thais only read books if they have to.

not worth answering really

Yeah as long as the money lasts!

Try not having any money back where you come from and see how long the relationship will last.

Another opportunity for Thai bashing by the sour grapes crowd who couldn't manage their relationships where they came from and obviously haven't learned anything since they came here.

These are the "blame somebody else" folks who refuse to take any personal responsability for there own role in their failures.

I totally agree with that sentiment.

"stupid is as stupid does"

And that one.

But so what, I agree with most of the others - it's a bit of good news at a time when foreigners living in Thailand are being flamed in other parts of the media. Example - while the Nation runs this story, today's Post has a feature page on foreign paedophiles in Thailand (Perspective section).

We could use some positive image-building for a change! I've been married 5+ years with 2 kids. My wife's family (Khon Kaen) seems to like me, they don't overstay their welcome and I've never given loans. But I've helped out when there's been a crisis (death in the family) and contribute monthly - not much (to me). They may not be as hot looking as the Bangkok university girls, (though some are) but by far Issan women are the most interesting in Thailand. They're no shrinking violets that's for sure. Mia Issans rock!

I have know my wife 13 years and been married for 6 years and we have a 2 year old son. My wifes family come from Samut Phrakan and they are welcome at any time. We have a small house that they can use when they finally get fed up in Bangkok.

Her parents have been looking after her eldest brothers 3 children for years and I suspect are fed up with it by now. We help out now and again and my wife has helped both her eldest brother and the middle brother on more than 1 occaision because they are family. Was it her money? No it was OUR money that she has access to at anytime she wants but she has always talked about it before she does anything.

So Isaan women marry farang men mainly for financial security,

I've never known any couple in the world who have got married where financial security wasn't very high on the agenda.

100% true.

precisely: the point i was making is that many farangs posting on this forum seem to feel aggrieved by the fact that money is one important motivating factor in Thai women's decisions to marry farang men. i was suggesting that many of the posters to this forum appear to have little else to offer their brides apart from money...no respect, no understanding, no wit or charm or intelligence. NOT a reflection on those men who do have plenty to offer. There are also plenty of happy, compatible Thai-farang marriages based on mutual respect.

This is also true as I can say for certain as 5 of my wifes friends have married farangs and live in different countries while the one friend who married a Thai left him as he was into domestic violence to both her and her daughter. Another friend has a daughter by a farang and he has a different girl friend though he does give some financial support while she still has to work in Bangkok while another friend looks after her baby.

No one is perfect and if the detractors of Thais are not happy they can always leave Thailand, most Thai girls cannot

End of rant.

IMHO the OP is sort of right and I agree with him now.

You have 22 overpaid contractors kicking a bag of wind around a field and their acting skills leave a lot to be desired. Football/soccer used to be very good and entertaining quite a few years ago but now it is just a job where the best "players" get ludicrous amounts of money for working 2 hours a week.

Personally I prefer WWE American wrestling where if nothing else the acting skills are higher.

Just did a silly thing, had to go home in a Rush and leave Thailand ( I had a Non O extended for one year as a married to a Thai support Visa ) but I forgot to get a re-entry stamp,

and left Thailand , but theres more... I had some problems back home and by the time I could get back to Thailand , my Non O

visa had run out of time, ( I know what you are going to say !! ) so here I am back in Thailand with a Toutist Visa issued by the airport Immigration

So is it possibel to convert my Tourist Visa some how back to a Non O Visa and then apply to extend it to a Thai support Visa again I am over 50 years of age ( and should have known better !! ) , Ive got the wife, ive got the money, Etc , what do I have to do..?

Thanks in Hope .......Razor

Hi Razor

I feel sorry for you as I have been there and done that and the only answer for myself came out as you dumbsh1t. I wish I hadn't done that.

If you follow lopburi3 instructions you will be fine.

However like me you won't do that again.

When it is all over and you have your Thai support visa go around and collect a multi re-entry visa for 3,800 baht and then perhaps you will be able to sleep comfortably at night.

Even if you are not plannig of leaving Thailand between visa applications it is worth 3,800 baht.

I also agree with Guesthouse.

I am one of those people on my second family and I have hopefully learned from my mistakes first time around. At 62 I can take the time to be with our 2 year old son which I could't before due to earning a living.

My wife wants him to go to school in the UK when he is about 14 which is totally the wrong time over there, it should be around 11 or 18 but we have a bit of time yet. However she also wants to send him to pre pre school now and I really don't want this to happen because of 2 reasons

Firstly if we send him to school from pre pre to the end of university he will have spent perhaps 20 or more years being educated.

Secondly and most important to me, he is a little boy and I would like him to enjoy little boy things like playing with friends etc. He doesn't need to grow up too quickly and miss his childhod as the second childhood comes when you are my age and unless he have young children he will miss out again on all the fun and excitement of children.

I wouldn't want him to have a life of education and work and no good memories to look back on.

quote Guesthouse

If we look at investment on international education in Thailand v return in terms of salary and advancement for luek krungs who stay in Kingdom then I think there is little doubt that the returns are pretty poor.

Bangkok International schools are charging fees equivelent to some of the most prestigous public (private) schools in the UK and yet the investment does not break the glass ceiling in Thailand.

But is education only about earning a better living? My view is that there is a lot more to it than simple training for a job.

It's not even just about education but also about what we can pass on to our children in terms of values and outlook.

Some will do well, some will flounder, but it is as much to do with the family and the child as it is with Thailand.

For the many who are on their second family, perhaps they might compare and contrast how each family did and if location had any real impact.

We need more rain up in the Central region near Khampaeng Phet so that I can see my fishpond full for the first time ever. Also it is good for the fruit trees as well.

From January this year we had no government water supply for nearly 2 months.

Have a Nokia phone I connect via a USB lead for GPRS connection.

At first; no problem; the pc detected the phone after a few seconds and an icon appeared. Now nothing; have checked the cable; seems O.K.

Any suggestions; or diagnostic tests please:

Thanks.

You have installed the PC-Suite software for the Nokia? Like Oxygen or so? If not, you need to do so first and for sure the propper driver!!

And what kind of Service you use? AIS, DTAC, Orange?? Prepaid or full account?

Yes Pc Suite installed and operational. Drivers are O.K. I feel that this is a detection problem.

When I used to plug in the USB lead an icon appeared the phone synchronised and then I was away, no problem.

Any tests I can do, regarding USB connections?

Are you using an original Nokia cable with the original CD that came with it?

I had a problem like this before with my Nokia 6100 and I found that if I uninstalled the cable program and reloaded it, that seemed to clear the problem.

I am now using a Nokia 6260 and Bluetooth which seems to work well enough.

I've always found there are 3 stages of expat living

1) everything is wonderful, the people are great, I love it here

2) everything is terrible, the people are awful, I hate it here

3) it has its good points and its bad points, just like living anywhere else in the world, some people are good, some bad --just like anywhere else in the world, and you learn to live in the place according to what is acceptable for you.

I will second that but amend 2 to read

2) a lot of things aren't how I like, some of the people are awful, But I have been in a lot worse places.

4) Why isn't Thai time like real time

I try to be optimistic but then there are those days when I wish I had stayed in bed

I've always found there are 3 stages of expat living

1) everything is wonderful, the people are great, I love it here

2) everything is terrible, the people are awful, I hate it here

3) it has its good points and its bad points, just like living anywhere else in the world, some people are good, some bad --just like anywhere else in the world, and you learn to live in the place according to what is acceptable for you.

I will second that but amend 2 to read

2) a lot of things aren't how I like, some of the people are awful, But I have been in a lot worse places.

Contact the embassy representing the country of which you are a citizen. This way, people here do not have to respond with:

“If you are British, then...”

“If you are a US citizen, then...”

“If you are Australian, then...”

etc.

Getting the drift?

Yes, I can already see from the above messages that people are wondering where I am from. I am so sorry if I 'irritated' you in any way but as you can see, I am new to this forum, I didnt think one had to be a professional writer to be able to make a post here!!!!!!!!!!!!

Thankyou so much for your information - It helped me alot!!!!

Hi Megan

I sometimes wish people would remember that we were all newbies once upon a lifetime (at most things).

Any way both Lopburi 3 and Libya115 have answered you and I did a Google search and came up with the following which may help you and others in your position.

Embassy website

www.britishembassy.gov.uk/Thailand

Passport information

Passport Services

Consular Section provides passport and Notarial services as follows:

Issue/renewal of passports

lost/stolen passports

Registration of births

Notarial Acts (Including documentation required to marry in Thailand)

Letters of support for Thai driving licence / Thai visa applications

Passport Applications

If you do not live in the UK you may apply for a passport from your nearest Embassy, Consulate or High Commission. Alternatively, you may also apply to the Identity and Passport Service (IPS) in person whilst visiting the UK. In order to do this, you need to make an appointment with IPS in the UK and you must provide an address in the UK to which the passport may be posted. Applicants will have to be available at this address to sign for the receipt of the passport. Please note that IPS do not accept applications by post or e-mail if you live abroad.

Requirements

• 2 recent identical photos (35mm x 45mm). The UK Passport Agency have strict guidelines on the quality of passport photographs. Photographs which do not meet the guidelines will not be accepted. Full details can be found at the UK passport website.

(We require two RECENT, COLOUR photographs with white background)

• Completed form

• Current passport

• Consular fee

Fees (£1 = 75 Baht)

• 32 page passport = Bt. 6,825.00

• Child's passport = Bt. 4,425.00

Your previous passport will be cancelled and returned to you. It is your responsibility to ensure that any valid visas are transferred into the new passport by Thai Immigration/the relevant Embassy.

Payment (by post)

• Banker’s Draft

• Postal orders payable to ‘British Embassy’ to be cashed at Nana Post Office, Bangkok 10110 (Please note that online postal orders are not accepted)

• To return passport by EMS please add 40 Baht (Thailand only)

A passport or birth certificate takes 10 working days from receipt of a completed application.

Notarial services are a 24 hour service.

Please ring us on (02) 305 8333 for further information and details of current fees.

I went for my 5th year last month and the first year took a couple of months, the next 3 about 6 weeks and when I went last month it was down to a month.

When you go next time, if they sat another month extension ask if you can see someone higher to clarify the reason as 4 months seems waaay too long.

If the immigration people only came last month you should be OK.

Also I think that you should be able to draw on the 400K baht as it is supposed to last you the yearand you have had 4 months already.

After the first one it gets easier.

Hope it works for you.

Hi everyone,

I need to get a new passport, Ive got 1 more page left, just enough for my next visa run. I will get a month after my visa run. When should I go to make the new passport? If it takes a week, Id be best waiting until a week before Im due to go on my visa run.

Also, how much is it approximately for a large passport?

Any help highly appriciated

Megan

If you are British it takes about 5 working days at the British Embassy in Bangkok but the price has just gone up and I don't know what it is now. If you do a Google for British embassies you will find it.

I would advise you to go for a new passport fairly soon after you do your run and not leave it untill the week before just in case of holidays or other problems.

As far as I can understand your post you have a 90 day Thai wife support visa from somewhere.

If you have not been to an immigration department in Thailand you should not have a support visa as they are only done in Thailand.

This link should take you to the immigration webpage which can explain in more detail what you need.

http://www.imm3.police.go.th/

Having renewed my Thai wife support visa just last week I would like to point out that in fact you do not need 400,000 baht in the bank provided you can show an income (pensions from abroad in my case) of over 40,000 baht a month or a combination of the two.

The lady at immigration asked me for the exchange rate of the UK pound to the baht and another lady also answered that it was 70 baht to the pound.

In my case I had less a lot than 400,000 in the bank but my pensions covered the income anyway.

Unless they check how much income went through my bank accounts during the one month period between applying for the extension and getting the stamp then there will be no problem.

Having succeeded with your visa application you can then get a multi re-entry visa if you will be leaving Thailand or report to the Immigration every 90 days if you don't leave the country.

Please note that the 90 day report is from the day you entered Thailand and every 90 days after and NOT from the date of your visa application approval. I know that from experience.

Thanks a lot guys.

That is 3 things I have learnt that I didn't know before.

Thanks for the good and useful information so far but I hope that Simon43 made an error in his calculations.

simon43 Posted Yesterday, 2006-08-14 21:43:34

Imagine my horror when I was accepted immediately onto the course, but told that I would be classed as a nasty foreigner and required to pay 6,420,234 pounds each term in fees......

I suspect at that rate you could probably buy a university. Sorry but I hope it was a typing error.