malt25

G'day all.

Some advice please. I know I'll get half wit replies but I'll filter through them.

I'll arrive in LOS in mid March to retire. I've been visiting several times a year for about 10 years. Having spent a lot of time recently getting everything in order here for the relocation I haven't given much time to car purchase research.

I hope to buy, second hand, soon after arriving. Budget up to about 600,000 baht including tax & insurance & all other on road costs. I'm interested in any advice, info on used car purchase. Best places to look, forums & web sites.

I do have a good sense of humor, but guys, PLEASE not too much comedy in your replies.

Thanks in advance..... Mal.

Japanese imports i seem to recall had an effect on the American Motor Industry. They all but wiped out MoCy sales in Europe too.

Just have a look at the Aussie car manufacturing industry. After over 50 years of production both Ford & GM have announced all manufacturing will cease by 2017, or earlier if can be arranged. You only think imports have an effect.... me knows they do.

I think I read a book about the place a while back. Catcher in the Rai.

Which language is more difficult to learn to speak: English or Thai ?

English for a Thai & Thai for everyone else !!!! Wouldn't you think ???

Hi "Old Lady"

Only 2 weeks ago I was in the same situation. You should find what you need at Eagle GPS in Pantip Plaza, 2nd. floor. The plaza is in the middle of CBD. Nice people who assisted well.

Hope this helps.

Cheers..... Mal.

G'day

I'm in the process of divorcing my Thai wife here in Australia, married in BKK.

Initially I logged onto Aussie government web site, divorce info. Maybe you can do the same. Aussie site came back with all necessary info & forms to download. I'm sure there will be a site on Canadian Government Pages. Aussie site is under Immigration.

Hope is of some assistance.

Cheers.... Mal.

Footnote to above.

I only ever draw 10,000 baht at a time from ATM. If you require more you can always draw as much as you have in your account from within the bank. Many banks are open Saturdays & Sundays.

Again, hope this assists.

Mal.

I have done it most ways. Brought cash. Used my card to withdraw at ATM. I consider best way is to open a Thai bank account. I opened account with Kasikorn bank with just 30 day tourist visa, no problems. Transferring money via Aussie banks is expensive, way too expensive. If you are an Aussie open an account with Ozfourex, easily done on line. If I can do it anyone can. You'll get daily exchange rates via e-mail & transfer your money when the rate suits you. You actually transfer your money into the Ozfourex account & they in turn transfer into your Thai bank account. They will phone you just prior to the transfer to confirm all details. If your transaction is $2000 or more no charge. I'm not sure of the exact charge for amount under $2000 but is far less than any Aussie bank.

Hopes this is of some assistance.

Mal.

I have been hiring cars in Thailand for about 7 years now with absolutely NO problems. I have used & recommend Fastcar hire brokerage, a UK company operating world wide.

Log onto Fastcar with your requirement details & you will get an immediate quote from several rental companies. you then choose the company you like price of best. I've always been welcomed when booking through Fastcat. On a couple of occasions when I've had special requests I've received better service from dealing through Fastcar than dealing direct with the car rental company.

As previous reply, you get free oneway if renting for 3 or more days.

No, I don't have any affiliation with Fastcar, just hope others enjoy the service I have in the past.

Cheers..... Mal.

Mornin all.

I'm heading to Mae Sot next week for a few days. Wondering if someone can give me a bit of info on crossing the border ? I realize I can only go for the day & have to be back by 5:00, no problem. I'll be travelling in a Thai vehicle & guess it'll have to stay on the Thai side.

1. Is it ok to park the car at the border ?

2. What transport from there ? Walk / Local bus ?

3. How far is Myawaddy ?

4. I hear it's best to pay crossing fee in $$$, is this correct ? Aussie $$$ ok ?

Any other info or advice to an older Aussie traveler will be most welcome.

Cheers.... Mal.

Well said Richard. It's amazing how much negative crap spews from those with nothing better to do than rubbish anything Thai. It never ceases to amaze me why so many choose to live here with the negative anchor fixed tightly around their neck. It would appear about 80% of all expats & visitors are the silent majority who accept Thailand for what it is. A great place to retire & enjoy a quiet life at a sensible pace with mostly wonderful people. It would appear most of the remaining 20% are posters on this forum with little else to do than whinge continually. To those 20% a suggestion no doubt you will ignore. Shut down the computer, get off your arse, open your mind & try to enjoy. It ain't all doom & gloom.

Yes, I'm expecting the negative comments re my post. Do your best...

I just landed at swampy from Phuket. I was on PG. The Captain announced that due to the monsoon, one runway was closed and had to circle for 15 minutes.

The fact that PG were covering up for TG leads me to believe that it was actually the runway which caused the failure of the landing gear. And all airlines are on instruction to issue the story so that swampy's reputation is not tarnished.

That is my conspiracy contribution for today.

That is actually normal operating procedure. Better to misinform the passengers then to tell the truth and have panicky passengers.

Imagine the scene on the plane if the pilot announced a plane had just crashed.

I experienced the same thing years ago at YYZ, "experiencing delays due to weather", no mention that an Air France plane had shot of the end of the runway while landing and is now on fire in a ditch.

Precisely... to bring an Automotive metaphor into an Airline subject: a number of posters let their foot off the clutch too quickly.

Who really wants to be on a plane which announces "due to the crash landing....."

This was yet another of the many Airline accidents which occur globally without serious injury to anyone. It seems all trained professionals did their job. Send 100's of panicked people down a slide and I'm sure a handful will twist an ankle (or whatever) at no fault of the crew.

A balanced perspective suggests. Incident well handled, shoddily reported, bandwagon jumped on by a handful of prolific yet negative posters...

It is what it is; An accident, none to serious yet frightening nonetheless for anyone on the flight, repairs will take 48 hours to the East runway, the knock-on effect of which will be inconvenience to many travellers but no more extreme than a similar event at any other airport with 2 runways.

I went & had a look yesterday afternoon... curiosity. I'm not a BIG tat fan but like to keep an open mind on most things. Event was much smaller than I had imagined. Half hour is more than enough to see all unless you are a fan or have friends there to chat with. Some "very interesting sights" Not a bad way to spend 1/2 hour or so.

To each his own.

Everyone wants a mortgage...... until they have one !!!

I've been a home owner in Australia for the past 40 years. Pride of ownership, status... all that stuff. Done MUCH research on rent V own. Renting in this "somewhat" unstable land wins hands down. Condo ownership, maybe. House & land NEVER !!!

To each his own.

A quarter century of traveling to/living in Thailand and I never once ate food off the street. Being a vegetarian put that right out of the realm of possibility. However, if I did eat carrion, I'd still not eat off the street. As the old saying goes, you don't eat where dog's poop...or something like that. (And I steer clear of restaurants in general.)

We, man, didn't spend a million or so years getting to the top of the food chain to eat grass !

i may have missed it, but i won't see anyone listing health insurance in their budgets.

I listed it; 75 usd per month.

Hi again.

care to PM me with who is provider for 75 US per month ? I'd be very interested.

Thanks..... Malt.

Thanks guys, very much appreciated. Me thinks me will be setting up a separate account & contributing monthly.

Cheers..... Malt.

i may have missed it, but i won't see anyone listing health insurance in their budgets.

Info please. I intend retiring in CM early next year. I don't think budget will be an issue. My income will be 70,000 baht per month with substantial investment in Aussie fund. My concern is health insurance. I'm 64, turn 65 in late October. I've been with BUPA Australia for an eternity. One broker I've contacted intimated about 153,000 baht per year premium for one provider, not BUPA. I'm in top table with my current BUPA plan but don't pay anywhere neat this amount. Is the 153,000 mentioned a realistic amount over there ? I know health insurance is expensive for expats but that sounds super expensive to me. Am thinking of putting a substantial sum in a separate bank account for medicals, maybe 200,000 baht or so, & just forget it until needed. What do some of you guys do for insurance ? Would really appreciate any comments on this. BTW, I'll be in CM for a couple of weeks later this month. I could join a fund prior to my 65 birthday if that would assist my plight.

Thanks to all in anticipation of your informative replies.

Malt.

28 yr old mate just had serious issues with his knee. Unable to work and almost immobile for 3 months. Private hospital cost was about 150k. He had Bupa insurance (the basic 12k p/a one) which covered most of it. Without that, and a good GF to give him food, shelter and TLC he would have been buggered.

Info please. I intend retiring in CM early next year. I don't think budget will be an issue. My income will be 70,000 baht per month with substantial investment in Aussie fund. My concern is health insurance. I'm 64, turn 65 in late October. I've been with BUPA Australia for an eternity. One broker I've contacted intimated about 153,000 baht per year premium for one provider, not BUPA. I'm in top table with my current BUPA plan but don't pay anywhere neat this amount. Is the 153,000 mentioned a realistic amount over there ? I know health insurance is expensive for expats but that sounds super expensive to me. Am thinking of putting a substantial sum in a separate bank account for medicals, maybe 200,000 baht or so, & just forget it until needed. What do some of you guys do for insurance ? Would really appreciate any comments on this. BTW, I'll be in CM for a couple of weeks later this month. I could join a fund prior to my 65 birthday if that would assist my plight.

Thanks to all in anticipation of your informative replies.

Malt.

You guys just don't get it. Young nurse bends over in front of you.... high BP & heart rate..... in your best interest to have it checked again & short time later.

The officials were exasperated at what they found:

Just wondering if a Thai official knows what it's like to be "exasperated"

Just curious.

If they can get the cannibalism under better control Port Moresby is in for a real chance next year.

First good laugh I've had today... keep up the good work.

It was good 30 years ago.

So ! is there something cryptic about this you'd like to share ? Doesn't really tell anything at all about what Kata's like now.

I think we might be splitting hairs here. Line 2 is correct inasmuch as applying for the aged pension, one criteria looked at by Centrelink is where one has resided for the 2 years prior to lodging the application. Returned resident status is another situation. Outcome might be the same. As told by Centrelink staffer "As long as you have resided in Australia for the 2 years prior to your aged pension application you won't have an issue with that criteria"

So, what's incorrect ? May be you could start a new thread on applying for aged pension as a returned resident ? Just a thought.

And I still hope this is of some assistance.