mizztraveller

Anyone want to tell them they spelt 'Litre' wrong?

Or is that a Chiang Mai variant?

Yeh, Yeh ... I know that's how the Yanks spell it ...

But they can't even get their measurement of a 'Gallon' correct ...

... any other demographic of the Chiang Mai community I can upset!

I'm confused! Us brits spell 'litre' the same way. I thought it was the Americans who spelt it wrong (liter).

I know that all ATMs, with the exception of Aeon Bank, charge 150 baht per withdrawal BUT ... if I went into the bank with my passport and made a withdrawal via cashier, is there a charge for this? It'll be a credit card withdrawal.

How about Air Asia? Chiang Mai - KL - Hanoi.

We're renting a studio in the night market area which has everything you need but we're paying 17,000 baht a month plus electricity and water. Internet is 500 baht a month but it's not very fast.

Have you seen this: http://classifieds.thaivisa.com/real-estate/apartments-to-rent/newly-renovated-studio-room-on-huay-kheaw-road-242479.html

Thank you) but it's really expensive for me

Have you looked at the link? It's under your budget at 6,000 baht a month.

We're renting a studio in the night market area which has everything you need but we're paying 17,000 baht a month plus electricity and water. Internet is 500 baht a month but it's not very fast.

Have you seen this: http://classifieds.thaivisa.com/real-estate/apartments-to-rent/newly-renovated-studio-room-on-huay-kheaw-road-242479.html

What rubbish! I suppose we'd better not have ice cream as a dessert either in that case.

Nancy - I know! We have 2 sets and forgot to bring both. Will see if I get bored with the iPod before I buy a third set!

Thanks. Looks like I'll have to stick to my iPod. Unfortunately the speakers on my computer are rubbish or I'd be tuning in to my favourite UK stations.

Can anyone recommend a western style radio station that I can pick up in Chiang Mai? Middle of the road pop/rock, and required FM frequency please.

Thanks.

www.chiangmaiapartmentrental.com/p102.html

6,000 per month all utilities included as well as maid service

I think you'll find this is considerably more than 6,000 baht a month. In fact I think you can treble that amount.

I think the lack of replies may be because you're being a bit overoptimistic with your budget of 6,000 baht for a new room in such a central location with all the TV and internet facilities you need. I think you might have to double the amount.

Which name of the new condo near Sri-Lanna hotel?

Oh dear, we've done this topic many times before. One of the great things about Chiang Mai is that you can have a nice lifestyle and fun with a monthly budget as low as 10,000 baht/month and up. The general consensus was that a single guy with somewhat of a social life would need 30,000-40,000 baht. Someone out in the bars every day, entertaining the ladies, eating western food for every meal is going to need much more. Up to you!

It's really a matter of budget, attitude and lifestyle choices.

I'd caution anyone trying to live in Thailand on a limited budget to be sure to have ready access to at least 50,000-100,000 baht for a medical emergency and to get health insurance (or a savings account of 500,000) if you plan to live here longer term.

I took some foreigner friends out to a Thai bar last Friday.

Leo/ChangC/ChangX were all 140bht for three large bottles inc a bucket of ice.

6 beers and 2 plates of food cost us 450bht, served by university girls and live music ..... 150bht for an evening out!

If you went out every night, that would be 4,500bht per month.

CM is not about drinking expensive drinks in foreigner bars served by ageing hookers, don't be scared to use Thai bars.

As for room costs, 6,000bht/month gets you a two room apartment, 2 air-con with separate kitchen in a new condo block out near the Sri-Lanna hotel.

I'd also like to know the name of the condo near the Sirilanna Hotel for 6000 baht a month...

Thanks for all your advice, I'm very grateful. However, I think I'll stick with getting the medical advice from my doctor.

My wife and I both use Naproxen, lots of it, for years. It is available here at almost any pharmacy. However, it's not cheap. Naproxen is the same as ALEVE. We get it from the states as we stock up when we visit or friends come to visit us. Look up Naproxen Sodium at the Walmart website. You can buy a 200 or 220 count (possibly 300 count) for around $12-$14. The brand name ALEVE cost a bit more, but exactly the same ingredients.

I buy Naproxen 500mg tablets in CM, I dont haggle about the listed price which is 50 baht for 10 tablets, 150 baht for a month supply. This is cheaper than a subsidised "age pension script" in Oz. I am happy.

I live in the UK so I'm unable to stock up at Walmart. I take two Naproxen daily so that would be 300 baht a month for me. They're free here at home but they're prescribed only a month in advance so unable to stock up. 300 baht is fine though to relieve the pain.

I've tried loads of herbal medication but, apart from Glucosamine, nothing has touched it. Unfortunately the sulphate they add to Glucosamine gave me major stomach problems so Naproxen and Omeprazole it is for me.

Thanks for all your advice about the alternative names, it'll be very useful.

Unfortunately I'm in the UK so not able to get them from Walmart. I use 2 a day so it would be 300 baht a month for me and they're free at home and I can only get one month at a time prescribed so can't stock up!

If you're looking for sexy, I suggest changing them more frequently than 10 wears! Yuk!

I also have arthritis. I was wondering how affective Naproxen is for you.

Not sure how bad I have it as the pain is all in one hip and one knee both on the left side. Radiologists said I had level 2 arthritis in both hips and level 3 in the knee. I have looked and can not find out how serious the levels are. is there 4 or 10 levels which is the worst 1 or 4. All I know is it is painful and if I am not doing any thing it for the most part is not painful unless I am moving and I have to be very careful about how I do that. The knee seems to need no reason it will just start up with out any movement. So far I don't take much as I can stand a quarter mile walk before it becomes to painful I of course need a crutch.When I do take some thing I have found that 800 MG of Ibuprofen manufactured here using the name Nurofen works good. But it is not good for the stomach and liver used regularly.

I've been taking Naproxen to ease the arthritic pain for a few years now. The Omeprazole is to counteract the gastric problems that the Naproxen (a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory - very much like a strong version of Ibuprofen) can create.

I stopped taking them once because I still felt a lot of pain, which was when I realised just how much they actually worked! For me, they're the best option. I've also been prescribed a paracetamol/codeine combination but they made me very tired.

I've not been told what level of arthritis I have, just that it's osteo and that in the future I'll need knee replacements. For the moment at least, my current medication suits me well and I'm pleased to know that I'll have no problems getting it in Chiang Mai.

Many thanks

I'll be living in Chiang Mai for 7 months and wonder if anyone can tell me if I can get my medication easily in a pharmacy or do I need to see a hospital doctor. The medication I need is Naproxen and Omeprazole. Does anyone know the cost of these?

Were currently in the process of applying for a multi entry Non Immigrant O visa from Hull. It's correct that they can't issue them from there any more and everything is sent to London though I presume it's by email as we're getting replies the same day.

My husband's occupational pension is short by £11 a month of the £1200 required. Fair enough - we've got savings of £20,000 each but we're having a nightmare with them as £35,000 is in a joint account and we've got cash ISAs of £16,000 each in individual accounts. It appears they want it all in one account.

They also require that the evidence of this should be shown in a bank account in which the following needs to be shown:

Name and address of bank

Name and address of account number

Sort code and account number

Total credit balance in account at time of application for visa

Unfortunately, our bank (Co-operative) doesn't show their address on their statement and will not issue anything in order to satisfy the demands of the Thai Consulate.

It looks like our solution is to open a new joint bank account (ensuring that they show their address on their statement!), transfer from the Co-op and release some money (at expense) from one of the ISA's in order to show a credit joint balance of £40,000 despite the applications are as individuals.

To be honest, if we knew it was going to be this much trouble we wouldn't have bothered. Feel very frustrated as we have everything required financially and more but not in the format they require. Flights are booked now so need to complete the process one way or another.

Be warned ....

I got my Non-Imm 'O' (based on an over 50 visiting Thailand and evidencing GBP 1,200 p.m.) from Hull on 5th July. I evidenced internet bank statements (showing name and bank account sort code/account number) with income over a 3 month period. I had other back-up info but this was not required.

I wish we had! Things changed on 14th July apparently.

Were currently in the process of applying for a multi entry Non Immigrant O visa from Hull. It's correct that they can't issue them from there any more and everything is sent to London though I presume it's by email as we're getting replies the same day.

My husband's occupational pension is short by £11 a month of the £1200 required. Fair enough - we've got savings of £20,000 each but we're having a nightmare with them as £35,000 is in a joint account and we've got cash ISAs of £16,000 each in individual accounts. It appears they want it all in one account.

They also require that the evidence of this should be shown in a bank account in which the following needs to be shown:

Name and address of bank

Name and address of account number

Sort code and account number

Total credit balance in account at time of application for visa

Unfortunately, our bank (Co-operative) doesn't show their address on their statement and will not issue anything in order to satisfy the demands of the Thai Consulate.

It looks like our solution is to open a new joint bank account (ensuring that they show their address on their statement!), transfer from the Co-op and release some money (at expense) from one of the ISA's in order to show a credit joint balance of £40,000 despite the applications are as individuals.

To be honest, if we knew it was going to be this much trouble we wouldn't have bothered. Feel very frustrated as we have everything required financially and more but not in the format they require. Flights are booked now so need to complete the process one way or another.

Be warned ....

We stayed at the Hilton a couple of years ago and the only thing we could fault was the extortionate wifi charge. I'm really fussy and can't see what people would complain about! It cost way more than 2,500 baht a night though. I don't think you can get anything on the beach in Hua Hin for that price.

As mentioned by Samuibruno, the mosquitos that transmit Dengue bite during the day so to be safe you need to use a repellant as soon as you get up in the morning. Personally, I don't use DEET products for a variety of reasons and have found alternatives which are just as effective but it seems that the little b*****s are now becoming tolerant to DEET anyway! http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-21519998.

Try asking the question on Google. Google knows everything!

I don't think a visa forum is a good choice for a medical diagnosis. It costs very little to see a doctor in Thailand and if necessary your insurance should re-imburse you. You do have insurance, don't you?