expatinasia

"Is this the same company as California fitness?"

Yes. In the US, it's "California Fitness". Outside of the US, it's "California WOW". I signed a longer-term contract for less than 400 THB/month.

"That's why I expect, in 2007, there is going to be a global slowdown, the extent of which cannot be predicted."

George thought that Gore would be Bush handily, and provided several tens of million of dollars to Gore. Opps! At least George said something intelligent - an inability to predict the economy in two years. Looking at how the TV posters are switching sides faster than a spinning weather vane, I'd have to extend the local ability to predict the US (or Thai economy) to one year. Or 6 months. Or a week, when several posters were crowing that the USD to THB would be in the mid-40's. Now, it's a scramble to see how low the USD will go. The DJI has reached a 5 year high, and several of the posters now predict the collapse of the US economy. What a hoot!

I don't know if the rules changed, or I just got lucky. I had my stuff imported in August, 2004. The importer, a larger gaggle of crooks has not been identified yet, originally quoted a duty of 5,000 THB - and I agreed. However, they selfishly increased that to 50,000 THB overnight, and I insisted on visiting Customs myself. When I got there, EVERYTHING had been unboxed, and was on the tarmac. The Customs inspector and I went to every pile and he made notes on every piece. We finally entered an agreement, if I could prove anything one thing was at least 6 months old, I would not have to pay duty. He rummaged through a pile of suits, and point to one, "Prove that this suit is more than 6 months old." I went through the pockets and found a ticket for my former employer's Christmas party, which was held the previous November. The inspector laughed and he allowed me to keep my stuff without the payment of any duty. Immediately, the shipping company called me and demanded a "tip", because their representative negotiated a good deal for me. Their rep did nothing, remaining mute through the entire deal, and I didn't give a tip to him or anyone else.

"Advair is salmeterol and fluticasone, Serevent is only salmeterol"

According to the packaging and the label on the discus, Serevent includes fluticasone. As I mentioned in my first post, the use of Advair or Serevent precluded the necessity of using a rescue inhaler. Got it now?

My experience was different...I didn't have a work permit, and I didn't have to pay any duty.

OP wrote "the 'neutral' which isn’t really neutral because it isn’t grounded like it is supposed to be".

"Neutral" and "ground" are completely different, my friend. Perhaps you've become accustomed to the way electricians hook things up in Thailand...

I'm impressed by the extraordinary cooperation between the police in the US and in Thailand. In the US, police and fire departments in the same city (most notably NYC) do everything to trip each other up.

cathyy,

You wrote "Serevent contains no steroids". That's incorrect. Serevant and Adaviar are manufactured by and formulated identically. Check out: www.advair.com.

"If there is a GLOBAL disaster (any kind) it will effect all countries Globally."

Thanks for the insight, It's hard to argue with that...

You're absolutely right. Less than a year ago, the baht-to-dollar was 38.5:1, and there was the same sort of "the sky is falling" nonsense. Whatever happens, there are doomsayers, and it is so much fun to look at their predictions a few months later. Some people live their lives in anesthetizing boredom, and there's nothing else for them to do.

There are scores, dozens, hundreds of threads detailing exactly what you're trying to do. Use the search function.

"girlfriend in her desire to 'take care' of her parents"

But that's what either you or she means. She means that she expects YOU to take care of her parents, and you're accepting that.

I used Azmacort for several years, in conjunction with a rescue inhaler (albuterol). In theory, the rescue inhaler should have only been necessary a couple times a month, but I was going through a couple of them a month. My US doctor recommended Advair Discus, and it worked like a miracle. I used it for five years, without having to use a rescue inhaler. When I moved to BKK, I found out that Advair was not available, but "Serevant" was. The same packaging, the same drug, just a different name. Too, it is widely available for about 900B in mid-Suk, for the "250/100" formulation.

lanny,

Tell your GF that dozens of people die there every month and she should avoid the place. That's bound to save you some money.

The officer could be looking more at you, than your GF. Here you are, ready to get married, and what do you have to offer: you and she are going to live with your mother, you have very limited financial resources, and no real plans to get married.

The ECO went out of his way to provide a very clear idea of his concerns. It's not just a question of your honesty - there's a question of her's. For example, her claim that she signed documents that she was unaware of their meaning. Does she understand NOW what she is doing? Too, the fact that she was planning a marriage to you while she was married to another person does not present her well.

"I envision an infestation of such rodents"

A roach is an insect, not a rodent. Perhaps that your problem: you're setting mousetraps, and that's not the way you handle roaches. If you spray every couple weeks, you'll be OK.

Too, people that were too myopic to invest are now crying because they didn't invest sooner. Rather than hoping that the real estate market will expand, they pray it will collapse

"renting it out in 1-2 years for income."

You can do that, but, if you expect the rent to cover the cost of the unit, plus something extra for you and your GF, you should lower your expectations.

Welcome to Thailand, where NO building gets constructed within the advertised time period. A good example is another GA project, "The Trendy" condo, just across the soi from the Regents. Although just a refitout, the actual completion date will be TWO years from the original advertised date. Check out "The Infinity", at the Chong Nonsi BTS station. The project completion date is now 2010, or some such nonsense.

"Here is an excerpt from an email from the shipping company when I moved my stuff over here. With a non imm visa and a work permit the regulations state that I would be exempt from any tax and duties.

'I checked with the shiping guy he inform me that you must pay for taxs & duties @ 12,000.00 baht for T-money (about half or less of the full duties amount).'"

I'm not sure which "shipping guy" you used, but I got a similar email when I brought my stuff from the US. I insisted that I meet with the Customs inspector who told me, "You get to bring everythying into Thailand, without paying any duties."

In summary, Customs didn't want the payment, the shipping company did.

Perhaps, "I Fought the Law and the Law Won".

"She is not a Bar girl, or street walker from Nana"

Perhaps, but she's really f*cking you over. You wanted to get screwed by a Thai girl, and you're getting your wish.

"clinical sex addiction"

Baloney. "Sex addiction" was removed from the APA DSM rev 4, years ago.

Your ex liked to have sex, and that's that. He's not nuts. The fact that you accepted it, is.

Hey Tenderfoot, I have a couple suggestions...first, graduate from high school. Second, have sex with people who aren't relatives. You should realize that your girlfriend (yes, the person that you've never met or spoken to) has already lied to you. Chulalongkorn University is a prestigious school, meant to educate professionals, and future captains of industry. It is a course-based educational institution. It does not provide "vocational training", such as for welders, or "tour guide". So, if she lied about attending Chula, could she be lying about her aspirations of becoming a tour guide? Since looks are your only criteria, perhaps you should consider dating a ladyboy - many of them are real "lookers". Of course, after your first date, your fanny will be sore, and you might have a funky taste in your mouth. A small price to pay for being seen with a "looker". Life is an educational experience, and it's evident that you've already enrolled in "Disappointment 101". When her visa is denied, it won't be due to her age - it will be denied because you are a real dumb cluck. There are enough unchaste women in Australia, and the officers are trying to save yourself from your peepee. You'll rant and rave about how unfair life is. You'll pout and stomp your feet, and that's OK.