WinnieTheKhwai

42 minutes ago, losworld said:

So you think the department of motor vehicles is using dna tests to identify you on your driver's license?

Why would they?  They can just let you fill in your preferred prefix.  Or omit it altogether.

I think it would be a great step forward for Thailand.   (Which means I'm sceptical that it'll get passed, and even more so in the current climate.)

5 minutes ago, robblok said:

You don't agree with violence... BUT... 

 

sounds like you agree when it suits you.

Or you can just read his post, and understand what it means.

Pathetic.

2 hours ago, Paul Catton said:

Don't shout at me, please.

My perception is Chang Klan road is in fact not a residential area, there may be some locals and possibly a few longer term expats with minimal budget residing in  doss houses in close proximity.

Traffic back in the earlier years was probably more hectic then in that particular area than as is now.

Warrarot Market should be the real focus for the sanitising of footpaths.

Perhaps returning back to the beach that you love may provide peace of mind.

Ha.  I wonder if he likes walking along Soi Bua Khao in Pattaya.   Or anywhere else really other than along the beach.

^ yeah that wooden shop building (Pakeryaw Shop) got taken out and moved somewhere.    There's been a sign for an "Erawan Condominium" there on the land where the Downtown Inn was, along with that shop on the plot next to it.

2 hours ago, sanemax said:

Thats because its full of stalls and people on the road and cars cannot pass through there

You can pass through there; it means bumping into a couple people usually but definitely possible.

So anyway, speaking of Hard Rock Cafe, how is business for them?  I really wanted to like them but they're not making it easy.

On 30/06/2017 at 0:30 AM, DeputyDog said:

When I said prints, it's more like posters....

When you sent big size prints, I read it more like pints.  

2 hours ago, kenk24 said:

Where do you get the containers here? Do any of them come already built out? Is it practical in this heat? 

No, it's not at all practical, or cost effective.

* You can't have them in the sun or it will literally be a solar oven, so you will be constructing a big roof with some air clearance above all containers.  And then you'd still need to add insulation if they're gonig to be air conditioned.

* Shipping containers are not designed to hold up after having holes cut into the sides for doors and windows (and you do want windows).  Forget any construction that involves stacking them creatively, and also moving them later becomes iffy (like with a crane they could fold in half if there are holes in the sides.)   Of course you could reinforce it on the inside or outside to prevent this, but that adds cost and complexity.

* Some of the highest costs with building something isn't actually in the posts, beams and walls, it's in kitchens, bathrooms, windows, doors, etc.  All of these costs still apply to using shipping containers as building blocks.  Plus with the roof being more complex, and still needing a basic foundation, the only things you avoid are a couple concrete posts and beams and some bricks.. those don't cost a whole lot for the ground-level only structure that one or two containers would provide, and it's much easier to find people who can get a basic post & beam house up compared to working with steel.

The only thing going for it is that in theory it 'sounds nice' that at any time you can call a container truck and say 'hasta la pasta, baby' and take off.  ... ... if your container doesn't fold in half in the process, because then you'd look silly.

http://grist.org/cities/dear-architects-stop-trying-to-make-shipping-container-buildings-happen/

And in terms of being movable,  a traditional Thai wooden home is actually quite movable.  Especially if you get one that just needs assembly on-site.   (Thai wooden houses also aren't all that great, but still a lot better than a steel cargo box. :) )

12 hours ago, halloween said:

I thought that would be up to the courts.

Not in Thailand and especially not in the South.

7 minutes ago, Kohphanganlover said:

I'm the OP of this thread and would like to share the end of the story and give some more details. 
-
The final report by the officer says: 
I had to many entries and long time I didn't went back to my home country and that raises speculation of working in Thailand. 
-
The law says that you can make an appeal against the decision but in reality you are not allowed to make use of it!

Your friends can also not help you because they are not allowed to fill out the appeal form and bring it somewhere. It says clearly on the form the applicant have to fill out the form in person. 

Maybe if you carry the TM11 form already with you and you still get interviewed by the IO you have the chance to hand it over. 

I was in the detention room and from there you are only allowed to talk to the Airline Staff via phone with which you arrived. 
I asked to make an appointment with an IO to hand over my appeal. The Airline staff told me that I'm not allowed to make an appeal, i got BLACKLISTED and I have to leave the country asap and she hangs up the phone.

2 minutes later I called again and another employee picked up the phone and told me to get ready for the flight (against my will and agreement).

Only 5 min. later an airline staff came and escorted me to the gate. I asked him if I didn't have to pay for the flight? He answered the flight is free of charge because the airline isn't a low cost airline and they take over the expenses. 

As I arrived the neighbour country a staff came to me and told me he has the order to collect 7300 Baht for the flight (flight to bkk the same way was 2500B) 
I didn't get any paper to show this amount of money and i didn't get any receipt after I paid. He told me if I not pay he will bring me to the immigration and I will end up probably in the next detention room.

Resume:

Never activate METV on land boarder! (I always believed that is a correct way to do, but it's still redmarked on my entry list!)
Never use a Visa Service Company to Cambodia (Ban Laem) and enter again on the same day, even one time could be to much. 
These entries are for some IO fact enough to a speculation of working illegally in Thailand!
-
I still have no information how I can fix this issue and if I'm going to be able to come back ever again to this beautiful country and there people except a few. 

PM from Lawyer are welcome!

Thanks for reporting back!   That's excellent first-hand information. 

Not sure you need a lawyer as much as a new passport, and looking very wealthy.

1 hour ago, Dipterocarp said:

If it is your first TM30 report in Chiang Mai you may be fined anyway. 

Not if you (actually your landlord or hotel) does it on the first business day after arriving at your place of residence, or submits online or via e-mail.    (Their online system is out again though.)

It's not actually your arrival date in the country that's relevant here, it's when you show up at the place where you stay.  You could holiday all over Thailand first. 

You (actually, your landlord) only gets fined if you volunteer to say you've been living somewhere for however long without a TM30 being submitted.

You also don't have to show up yourself; it's your landlord (your wife's) job.

From the airport you have a couple options:

1.  Airport Taxi or Meter Taxi 

These two are about the same in cost, 160 Baht for an air conditioned taxi; I think the "Airport Taxi" (booked from the booth in the area where you pick up your bags, or from Domestic Arrivals) is the better one.  

2. Just walk outside and flag down a passing Red Bus "Songthaew" share taxi that just dropped people off.  More information about Songthaews is here: https://www.theblondtravels.com/ride-songthaew-chiang-mai/   (They will charge 30 baht per person now when sharing with other people)   In Chinese:  紅色雙條車 : http://tinyurl.com/jbem7qa

3. Tuktuk (maximum 3 people, or 2 with luggage) same as above but the fare is for the whole vehicle, likely about 80-100 Baht depending on what you negotiate.

4. Airport Minivan (International side only)

This is 40 baht in theory but only if they fill up a van in full with people going in the same direction, otherwise they may ask for more. This is probably not worth it unless you arrive at International and a van is about to depart.

9 minutes ago, Paul Catton said:

Not a hedonistic bar in sight nor Rimping, how do you survive?

Yeah, I didn't say I actually live there. :)    Paradise is WAY overrated.

But the long term plan is to maintain a pied-à-terre downtown.

Paradise of the North

(About 30 minutes from town)

10 hours ago, thaibeachlovers said:

Yes, the government has specifically said buying land with your money in a wife's name is illegal ( according to what I read in the newspaper ).

... For the purpose of controlling the land, yes.   But I really don't think it's illegal when the money is a gift without any kind of ownership construction.  (From that perspective it may actually be less correct if a lease is issued, then it looks more like a foreigner is controlling the land.)  Although so far neither has ever been a problem since the current regulation went into effect almost 20 years ago.

4 hours ago, Trujillo said:

I am curious why you and your wife would want to move to a place that neither of you have been to and know little about? 

Did you read somewhere that San Patong is some sort of paradise of the North? 

It isn't?  :^O

16 hours ago, ramrod711 said:

Question is, if it is against the law for me to buy land for her, why wasn't the law enforced? That guy didn't care at all, and later there was an issue with one corner of the road frontage that didn't meet the land. 

Right, I don't think the purpose of the law is to prevent a Thai spouse from buying land with money that she received as a gift from her husband.  

The main purpose is to establish that a foreign spouse will have no (joint) claim to ownership of the land: normally with any purchase of anything, ownership would be joint because of marriage.  The signing of this document establishes that land ownership is by the Thai spouse only, not jointly owned.  

There is also no requirement for the Thai spouse to show the origin of the money, clearly it is fine when she received it from her husband.  

However, interpretations can change over time, of course.  Or even immediately, at the whim of the powers that be.  Thailand's legal system and model of governance do not inspire confidence for serious business investments.  (Unless the benefits outweigh the risks, or the investment is not a major one.)  I therefore can't argue with the people on this forum who advise to rent only, other than to say that many foreigners feel that their spouse (and kids) deserve to own property or at least feel they deserve it more than giving rent money to a total stranger.  

9 hours ago, Socky said:

Asking Price is about 900 K per rai, it´s fully chanode. I think it´s fair for this area.

Myeah, I suppose so.  It doesn't sound like the deal of the century, but not unreasonable either.  Especially if it's just 1-2 rai, not 30. :)   My Mrs. has land in Sanpatong for sale and wants more than that for it. (1 Rai in a village off the Canal Road, 19 kms from Airport Plaza intersection.)

1 hour ago, ramrod711 said:

I bought land for my wife, when she went to the land office I was at the gym. She called me, told me that the guy at the office wanted to see me. I asked why, it isn't my land, my name isn't on it.

But your name is on her, hence the request.  

(Typically they don't ask if a Thai wife doesn't change her last name after marriage.)

So.. about 600-800K per rai?

15 hours ago, Socky said:

And about the money for buy that land.....all about Land Offices in Thailand want farang sign about that this money it don´t comes from him. So, there is no problems with law.

Especially if that's actually true.

Although even if not I don't think it's too likely to cause a problem once the land has been transferred.

If anyone feels bothered by it then you can establish an alternative trail for the money, like a mortgage via the government ฺBank for Agriculture and Agricultural Cooperatives  (ธ.ก.ส.) on other land that her family already owns. And then she can pay that off from her allowance or other regular income. 

This mitigates other risks too because you're not going all in, typically ending up with very low monthly payment, much lower than renting something around town even after building a basic house on it.

24 minutes ago, elektrified said:

Not a damn thing to do there. Bunch of hicks living there.

You could say that about the whole of Chiang Mai. 

But on topic: I can't think of any issues in that area. Ban Klang is a pretty big area.  Not terribly scenic in most places, although the main area worth mentioning is the Wiang Tha Kan historical site.   I would like to be near there.  (or in the middle of it if at all possible)

On 6/23/2017 at 0:19 PM, Rfah said:

If so would really like to discuss with you how you get around the min inbound transfer fee of 200 baht that the banks levy on international incomings??

 

Thanks.

Transferring money costs money.  It's a cost of doing business.   You can minimize it by telling AirBnB to only transfer money when a certain amount is reached, for example only do a transfer once you get to 10K.   (e.g 4 stays of 3000 baht each)

You can also pay out to PayPal and then transfer via Bangkok Bank's New York branch, altough fees do apply there, too.

Mae Kampong is not far in kilometers but feels very remote.  https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g1450344-d4997640-Reviews-Mae_Kampong_Village-Mae_On.html  

Easily reached on a scooter.

21 hours ago, seancbk said:

 

In Bangkok you'll find many housing developments like this.   

http://www.areeya.co.th/en/TownHome/index.php

 

Areeya Mandarina Village is pitched as Home Offices - http://www.areeya.co.th/en/HomeOffice/Areeya_Mandarina_Sukhumvit77_Projectconcept.php

Yes, but none of those are classed as condominiums and therefore foreigners can't legally own it.

On 6/30/2017 at 7:12 AM, jonwilly said:

The Thai lawyer whose services I have used is adamant that Frangs should always buy a Condo, for as she says The Thai Government says YOU own it.

If you're single and you want to own something then yes.  But if married and/or with big (Thai) kids then it's good to let them own some stuff, possibly with a lease for yourself just in case.  Especially as I'm having a really hard time with the value proposition of condominiums in Chiang Mai. (It's different in Bangkok)  But in Chiang Mai they build something way out on the Canal Road where land is cheap anyway, so you get all the downsides of everything: big commute into town, while still living in what is essentially an apartment block. And the price for all that is actually higher than for a lot more floor space in town or close to town with a house.  So.. yeah.  (There are a couple exceptions; you can count them on the fingers of one hand, but there are some.)

With a condo you own it legally but you don't control condo management, neighbors, etc.  With a house you don't own it but you have a lot of control over upkeep. 

7 hours ago, Ruffian Dick said:

So a smaller "block" as you see in townhouse-like detached condos, are more of a risk for the developers (in Thailand), since there's a lower chance they can get their minimum of 51% Thai owners. A larger block, built as an apartment block, allows a better chance of filling these quotas. I think.

Yes, although if it's upmarket enough then it doesn't matter all that much anymore, as Thai people and Thai business will snap it up just fine; it's hard to find foreigners in Chiang Mai who want to drop 10-20 million.   For example I could see a low-rise, nicely designed condominium in the old city area doing very very well.  You can't go higher than 3 storeys there and with the land prices as they are that'll be very exclusive.  It's not being done though.

I don't care how much it is.  I still want to support Uber drivers.

4 minutes ago, JayBird said:

I think each border crossing by a non Thai passport counts as one tourist.

 

I'm not sure of airplane passengers who cross Thai air space without landing counts even if they are high altitude tourists enjoying Thai nature.

Only when on a tourist visa or visa-exemption.  Not when on a Non Immigrant visa.   (And anything crossing Thai airspace never gets recorded anywhere; I know you're joking but it's Thaivisa after all. ) 

However, the context of this article is airport congestion, so it doesn't really matter if people arrive for tourism or otherwise, or transit even.   So on the topic of airport utilization, als transit passengers matter.

And tourism is still very healthy right now, it's about the only thing in Thailand that's working well under the current regime.

I hope that means that Chinese people can drive to Thailand again?    They seriously stopped the growth from that market dead when a ban was introduced.  

Plus the banning of Chinese cars makes no sense, I'd much rather have tourists driving their own vehicle that they're familiar with and are careful with than just renting a Thai car.  (Or worse: a motorcycle)

I think I heard about something that could be similar in the Hang Dong / Sanpatong area, but I don't recall the name.

Chances are though that whatever low-rise condominium you might find that can be legally owned by a foreigner will be exceptionally expensive.  

To the point that it makes a lot more sense to just buy &renovate a townhouse for someone you like, with a lease on it.