Phil Clark

I've been here for about 5 months now and still they come for me! I've tried mosquito repellant - hah! Fat lot of good that did. So I've resorted to largely covering myself up to help avoid being bitten.

For those who say/think it's about 'smelling Thai', I've been eating a Thai diet, day-in, day-out, since I got here, but it's made no difference.

Ideally, I would be happy if mosquitos were wiped from the face of the planet, although I can't see it happening. It's not just the itching/pain of bites but the unsightly marks they leave, both when just bitten and afterwards. Is this something you just get used to and/or your body adapts to? 'Cos I'm still waiting!

Do you expats still suffer from mosquito bites? I'm just wondering how everyone else is faring...

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Try losing some weight and then switch to Kloster Beer!

Joking apart, I do believe that being heavy on the garlic in your diet helps, although you may put off more than mosquitoes.

Only Square root pictures allowed in this thread

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Harmonica,

I suspect you have had your organ in your hand (or mouth :D ) for too long to make any comment about 'roots'.

Are you unware that 'Mathsturbation' is considered 'Economic Terrorism' in the Kingdom as it deprives certain segments of society a living?

Go figure...

   

Level 13

I interview a person for an accounting position with us and ask only one question.

What is one and one, and the person answered :- ???????????????

So what did the person answer????        

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"Are you buying or selling?"

The Harley would be ideal in my view.

My izuzzu is one year old next month. It's in my name. What is the easiest way to tax it. Do I have to go to that horrific place on soi 36, or can I do it elswhere and what is required ?  It's a first for me.

Help appreciated.

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I went over to the Licensing Centre on the Rayong by-pass to renew my Driving Licences during the week. As my car tax expires at the end of May, I thought I may as well see if I could renew the tax myself (I normally pay a Thai to go for me). As the tax was not due to be renewed for a couple of months I thought I was pushing my luck, but as I had time to kill I thought I would give it a try anyway.

It was an unexpectedly painless process. All I had to do was go to their inspection bay situated at the end of the row of shops. They took the log book and a mechanic carried out some basic checks (lights, indicators, brake lights, reversing light) and noted the chassis number. Some ten minutes later the log book was returned with receipt for the 150 Baht fee along with two other papers showing my car details.

I then needed to get a copy of the insurance certificate (the one you stick on the windscreen) before going over the road to the centre. I presented these to the woman at the Information desk on the ground floor. She then gave me a ticket with a queue number on it. I was soon called and then paid the fee at the counter and had the new tax disc within a couple of minutes.

As your vehicle is only a year old, you may not be required to have the test done. Probably best to ask at the Information Desk first. The woman was very helpful.

Just for general info on the vehicle front, my one year car and motorcycle licences expired on the 17th of March but I left it until the 22nd to renew. I can confirm that along with the old licences, two photos per licence and relevant copies from my passport, they did require two original proof of address papers issued by Immigration (200 Baht each) although they did not require Medical Certificates. Five year licences for car and motorcycle were 505 and 255 Baht respectively. Btw, they actually date the expiration of the licences on your birthday five years hence, so in my case they are good for five years and nine months.

It would seem it is therefore technically possible to get six year licences under the right circumstances.

Phil

Hi I will be entering Thailand on 30 day visa being US citizen. I will marry a wonderful Thai lady with in a week of arrival. Can I get a visa from the Thai government after we are married to stay for a longer time??? If so what must we do????

Thanks

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Have you met this "...wonderful Thai lady" yet?

I want to change some Thai baht for Japanese Yen in Pattaya.

Does anyone know the best place? I once changed Thai baht for US dollars on a soi off Walking Street and received a fake $100 in my bundle.

Any personal experience/knowledge feedback appreciated.

Wilson Steer.

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Bank Gold on Soi Rungland is probably your best bet. It is the soi opposite the International Telephone Exchange on Pattaya Tai. The shop is on the left some thirty yards in.

Just give them a call on 038 420097 to check first.

PC

String him up.

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I agree.

As it took Howard of the Grass Fraternity and Reporter of the Most Foul three years to report the inaction of those that should have dealt with the accusations long ago if they have any substance, our wannabe Akela should most definitely be strung up.

It seems that Howard can relish in this sort of gutter reporting but cannot answer the following list of questions posed so many times:

1. Why did you join the Tourist Police Volunteers?

2. How did you join, were you approached or did you apply?

3. Do the Authorities have anything on you?

4. Was it suggested that if you did not comply then your current visa status etc might be reviewed?

5. What are your duties and the purpose of your role?

6. What powers do you have?

7. Do they supply you with a Work Permit (WP’s are issued for a particular ‘job’ so one you may already have is inapplicable, may the ‘job’ be non-paying or not).

8. Are you not concerned about the bad reputation volunteers have as the motive for enlisting is, to say the least, questionable?

9. Are you not concerned that some of the lowlife that exists in Pattaya may get to you before you, in their minds, get to them?

10. What would you do if you stepped in to a situation, potential or otherwise, and the farang told you to get lost or else?

Hang on to your woggle as you scamper under the desk, Howard.

I too noticed that yesterday,hopefully it will bring down prices of the others,wonder if they will be in Pattaya.

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Me too, hence my half-hearted post.

I believe Thailand has 76 provinces.

Surely Chonburi is one of the 24 'major' provinces?

What struck me was that if they are launching this on the 24th of March, i.e. next week, then someone should tell their Marketing Division.

If this is kosher then those annoying dog upsetters who post crap in your mailbox or fence would have been out in force ages ago.

Oh how I would love to have my sceptism proved unwarranted...

This appeared in the Bangkok Post yesterday:

ADC aims for 'triple play' of video, phone and broadband Internet

TONY WALTHAM

Hannover, Germany _ A new high-speed DSL broadband service is being launched in Bangkok and the major provinces next week by Advanced Datanetwork Communications (ADC) that will also provide video on demand services with over 1,000 hours of content, games and free TV channels.

ADC, a member of the Shin Group, will provide 2Mbps of unlimited broadband within the country and a 1Mbps international link for just 650 baht a month, including the free television, according to managing director Aphivan Ratnin Saipradist.

The equipment for this home entertainment network is provided by Siemens, after ADC signed a turnkey contract with the company to initially provide 200,000 broadband lines over a three-year period. The end-user equipment includes a Siemens set-top box, DSL modem and splitter.

ADC will introduce the service on March 24 in what Ms Aphivan calls a "triple play" by providing existing telephone connectivity, broadband Internet access from a PC and local television channels or video on demand at the same time.

Ms Aphivan said that ADC's investment over two years would be some 500 million baht and that its role was that of an integrator, with the Internet service provision being under CS Loxinfo's licence.

This service will be available to residents of Bangkok and 24 major provinces in all parts of the country who have Telephone Organisation of Thailand lines and ADC expects to sign up between 60,000 and 80,000 subscribers in the first year.

Hmmm, could it be too good to be 'true'?

My Thai Driving Licences expire next week.

Having just searched, posts confirm that you can get a five year licence provided you apply after your old annual licences have expired.

However, two of the accounts by members who had successfully applied for Five Year Licences at the centre on the Rayong by-pass were inconsistent as regards what paperwork is required.

One said that he did not need a certificate of residence yet the other said he did. That could well be because the latter just handed the papers over, but perhaps not.

I can of course get one (two) if needed, but if I do not need to go through the hassle that would be a bonus.

That said, the last thing I want to do is trek up the Rayong by-pass only to be told I need both Medical and Residence Certificates.

Has anyone from the Pattaya area applied for renewal recently and therefore knows what is required?

Thanks for any up to date info.

PC

It is that time of year when I restock on T-shirts. I just like to go in and point to a dozen shirts, maximum irritation time being say five minutes.

That is why I never take the Mrs with me.

Anyone have any recommendations on the best places to go at the moment to buy decent quality T-shirts at a reasonable price?

As I do not bother checking this sort of thing unless I have a need to, I may well be out of touch. Is Candy’s still operating, still worth going to and if so is it still in the same place?

Alternative places would be good to know of too.

Thanks.

PC

This is a barter society. How could she not know that?

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"Barter"? Don't you mean haggle?

Would 20-30 million tbt be enough to retire on at 52 Hsbc are offering 8% now.

Just wondering.

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8% on Thai Baht deposits in Thailand?

Please clarify.

Thanks

I fear that "reliable Thai contractor" is an oxymoron.

Who ever you use, you will have to stand over them every step of the way,

and not be afraid to STOP, calling the main man if you see anything amiss.  Don't let the work run on, until the problem is fixed!!

I am moving your post to the Building section so that you can get more general advice from other members

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Thanks for the thought, but I was not looking for general advice, I was seeking specific contractors in Pattaya that people have actually used.

I am also fully aware of the problems involved in dealing with Thai workers as I have supervised two major house refurbishments myself in Pattaya over the years.

Yes, it was a nightmare!

My strategy was to stand over them, order the materials myself and only pay them around 50% of the work completed to my satisfaction. Even then, once I paid them a progress payment they would clear off for a day or three and only return when they needed money.

Accordingly, as I was looking for specific up to date info peculiar to Pattaya, I would appreciate you moving the thread back to the Pattaya Forum if that's OK.

I have tried all my old contact numbers but as they are all over six years out of date it is hardly surprising I cannot get hold of anyone.

What I was hoping for was a recommendation from someone who had used a local recently.

Btw, all the farang contractors I know use Thai labour anyway. Yes, they have the headache of controlling the workers, but they also charge for their 'supervisory skills' like a wounded buffalo.

A mate of mine has a couple of units in a new Jomtien condo.

The basic refurbishment work has been completed, but there is still a fair bit of work to be done. He has been called away and asked me to see what I could find out. The contractor has done a runner by the sound of it.

The sort of things left to be finished are:

1. A small area of floor tiling.

2. Completing some brickwork, plastering and then tiling.

3. Some plumbing work

4. Fitting curtain rails, towel rails and so forth

5. Some electrical work

6. Fitting, painting and varnishing new doors

7. Final painting of walls and ceilings.

Does any expat know of a reliable Thai contractor that wants the work? I doubt it is worth looking for a Farang contractor as there is probably not enough room to soak up the rip-off factor.

Thanks.

During my one trip to Thailand, in 1990, I saw a brand of toothpaste on sale in Central.  It was named "Darkie" and had a golliwog logo.  I pointed it out to my Thai friend and he said that they were having to eliminate that brand even though it was a very old, well known and popular (i.e. valueable) brand.

I bought two little 4.5 baht tubes of it, one of which I tried (basically the same as Pepsodent) and one of which I have kept until now as a souveneer of the unenlighted past (not being sarcastic).  If I returned to Thailand and found the brand still on sale I might feel disappointed in the lack of progress.

It is my understanding that there is in fact one very very famous family in Thailand which, being very old and very Thai, and not mixed with Chinese blood at all, has fairly dark skin.  However, I think taking this particular point further might be dangerous.  I mention it just to note from the safety of America that some attitudes override others.

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The name was slightly changed, but the logo is still there. The brand pretty much dominates the toothpaste market.

TH

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It is now called 'Darlie'. Everything else is the same.

Hi

I have rental income from a house in the UK. The funds go into a HSBC current account there. What's the most efficient way to get the pounds (about 1000 at a time) over to one of my Thai bank accounts (Siam Commercial and Bangkok) on a regular basis?

I have a UK bank card with the sirrus symbol, so it's possible to withdraw straight from an ATM here but I'm worried they'll charge a lot and when they convert pounds to baht they'll give me the UK exchange rate which always seems lower than the Thai exchange rate.

ps I'm in Chiang Mai and won't be making regular trips to Bangkok.

Thanks

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From my experience in withdrawing from Sterling accounts in UK via ATM’s in Thailand, you get the correct exchange rate (in line with say Bangkok Bank Rates (click on Bangkok Bank FX Rates). The only time the UK Banks can screw you (and they will if you give them the chance) is if you let them convert Sterling to Baht at their rip off rates. That is why I always specify transfers of funds in Sterling as the Thai Banks will give you the correct rate on the day they receive the money.

As you are already with HSBC, you may want to consider opening an on-line account with First Direct as they are a member of the HSBC Group. I have been with them for years and cannot fault their service. I tend to make a couple of electronic transfers from UK each year to either Siam Commercial or Kasikorn and all it takes is a message to First Direct on-line and it is done that day, funds usually taking two to three working days to be available in Thailand. I have several accounts with them and am able to transfer between accounts with ease and pay all UK bills on-line. First Direct also have no problem with sending replacement cards to your Thai address.

If you are only going to be withdrawing amounts of about £1,000 a time, it would not be worth making electronic transfers as the ATM route would be cheaper. First Direct charge a flat £21 per electronic transfer and 1.5% (£1.75 min.) of ATM cash withdrawals so the breakeven point appears to be £1,400. Clearly the Nationwide card sounds attractive provided the exchange rate is in line, although the new daily limit could be a nuisance. I should also imagine that transferring funds between HSBC Group members could be cheaper/easier.

Regardless, click on First Direct and have a look at the services they offer as some could be useful in terms of paying your UK bills etc. If you are happy with what you see you can apply for an account on-line. At the moment they are offering new customers a free credit of £25 when they open an account.

Cheers

Phil

Do bars and clubs close at all during Songkran - like for the King's birthday - or is it business as usual?

On a similar note, do lots of the girls go home for the holiday, or are there too many tourists to miss out?

Thanks for any info.

Iain

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The bars and clubs will open as normal.

However, be warned that this is the only time of year when beer is served at full strength because of the demand for water...

Sorry to disappoint anyone who knows me, but I have no intention of dying in the next decade or three.

However, I have concluded that I should ‘take care of my affairs’ for when the inevitable happens so that I can have a say in where the money goes. Not that it will matter to me when I am dead, the thought of scavenger strangers picking over my Thai estate is not a welcome one.

I have already finalised my UK Will, so the bulk of my ‘wealth’ is already taken care of. That said, the Thai ‘estate’ is not insignificant and so I want to get that sorted as best I can before I join friends down in ###### [why is that four-letter word banned?] (no way do I want to go to Heaven if such a place exists, as I wouldn’t know anyone).

I have already started researching the subject and, not surprisingly, I am getting conflicting advice from so-called Thai professionals in the Legal profession.

I obviously need to appoint Executors (however that transliterates from English to Thai and back) and am told that Beneficiaries can also be Executors. That comes as no surprise to me as it is the case in UK.

However, I am concerned as to the accuracy of advice being offered. I have spoken with three different ‘Law firms’ in Pattaya and have not been too impressed with the answers to specific questions.

Rather than go through what I asked and what the responses were, I will just list a few questions:

1. What is the procedure for farang Executors, whether or not they are beneficiaries, once they are aware I am dead? Who do they contact, what rights of access to my assets do they have etc?

2. Does a Will have to be formally lodged with a Thai Authority or notarised to be valid under the law? As far as I am told, two people formally witnessing my Will are all that is required.

3. I have certain assets under the umbrella of Thai companies in which I am a minority shareholder yet I have effective control. Could this detail cause any problems when land is involved?

4. How much would one expect to pay for a Thai Will, complete with English translation?

5. Should there be a problem with interpreting my Will in terms of language (i.e. Thai vs. English) which language would prevail in court? In other words, does the English version have any legal merit?

There are several other potential issues I would like to address, but this post is running away with itself.

Suffice it to say, if anyone has firsthand knowledge and would like to share same, it would be much appreciated by myself and doubtless many others.

Thanks for any input.

Phil

PS. You are all going to die one day!

I posted the following in the General Topics section, but zilch response:

Does anyone know the current fees for annual car licences or tax as it may be known?

I believe there is a sliding scale according to the cc of the engine and that the rates are higher if the vehicle is in a company name as opposed to an individual's name.

Anyone have the details?

Thanks.

Phil

If anyone happens to be going to the Licence Centre (behind the School of the Regents on the Rayong By-pass) for a Driving Licence renewal or whatever in the near future, would they be so kind as to enquire? Hopefully they may have a chart of some sorts as that is where the vehicle licences are issued.

Yeah, I know, but worth a try...

Does anyone know the current fees for annual car licences or tax as it may be known?

I believe there is a sliding scale according to the cc of the engine and that the rates are higher if the vehicle is in a company name as opposed to an individual's name.

Anyone have the details?

Thanks.

Phil

ANSWER  You should make a will in which you name your husband as the executor of your will and list how you would like your assests to be inherited. You can provide that your husband can sell or rent the properties and recieve the revenue.

That will give him the right to lease, sell or do any thing else with the land as long as he complies with the instructions in your will.

From   Issues and Answers Phuket Gazette.

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I didn't think an executor could benefit from a will??!!

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Yes, an executor ('Administrator' according to my Thai lawyer) can be a beneficiary.

This is what you call "shit hitting the fan"!

Portland - Independent Media Center (IndyMedia)

HARROWING 1ST HAND ACCOUNT OF TSUNAMI

author: expat in Thailand

An email from a dive instructor in Thailand. It is the best - and most

harrowing - description of the tsunami I've seen. Incredible.

SNIP

Had the account been "1ST HAND", it might be believable.

It clearly was not as it it was not written by the person concerned, given:

author: expat in Thailand

Someone out to profit methinks, as why did “expat in Thailand” not put his name to the story?

I wonder if:

Dive Aid 2005 is a Registered Charity?

Clearly not is my best guess and therefore open to scrutiny.

The basis of the tale may well be true, but I for one will not be sending them any money via PayPal as it could be going anywhere.

Perhaps this is a genuine effort to help by well-meaning people, but the whole way it has been presented smells of a scam.

Those behind the fund-raising initiative should be able to come forward and explain with ease, demonstrating their accountability. Otherwise, some cynics might believe that this is nothing more than an effort to rebuild a supposedly demolished Dive School at someone else’s expense or just make a fast buck.

I will reserve my judgement until such time as they each individually and openly 'expose' themselves.

Phil,

Thank you very much you seem to have put things into a much clearer perspective. I will of course be avoiding the illegal route as that is not my way.

I have been getting information from many sources and trying to thread it into a straight forward solution was getting me confused. Especially since the agency that the Immigration recommended was muddying the waters so to speak.

The replies with the exception of Pong  have been most helpful. I now know what I need to do. You seem to be very clued in, are you one of the moderators by chance?

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Hey Joe,

I am glad the Forum helped you get on the right track. There are some very helpful people here, coupled with a wealth of information accessible via the search function.

No, I am not a Moderator by any means. I live in Thailand and am retired in all employment senses of the word and most importantly in the eyes of Thai Immigration! Therefore, I could not be part of a website that appears to sell advertising space. I believe that would be constituted as working and so out of the question as I do not have a Work Permit. Thankfully, I have no need to work.

Your comment in conjunction with a later post from Pat Pong started me thinking and so I did some basic checks. I was surprised to find that Thaivisa.com is registered in Hong Kong with all details of contacts referring to Hong Kong, not Thailand.

There might well be a simple reason for that, as I am sure that anyone profiting from Thaivisa.com whilst living in the Kingdom would have all the necessary visas and work permits etc. It could be that the Owner(s), Moderators, shareholders or whatever combination of participants exist, live offshore anyway, odd as that might appear to some (including me).

As to where you are posting from, It was clear from your rebuttal to Pat Pong’s accusation that you were not in Thailand that you insist you were, despite his trace results.

Perhaps Pat Pong could perform a trace on this post and share the results?

I wonder where his trace will say I am posting from?

Enquiring minds need to know and it should also be important to the accuser to check the validity and meaning of his traces before coming out with troll charges.

Over to you Pat Pong, if you would be so kind: I am genuinely interested. Perhaps you would also share details of the tracing software you use.

Thanks and Merry Xmas to you and all Forum members.

May the New Year bring you all you wish and hopefully more.

Phil