tlcwaterfall

Very helpful and informative post. Someone asks for help and you give this response?

Anyway here is my contribution.

Happy inn So i4 Sukhumvit. Telephone number is in the link below.

Clean place with an elevator and good friendly staff.

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/348250-cheap-hotel-sukhumvit/

.AAA dosnt work now,

Genesis is ok

Robin Hood not working

so its a constant cat and mouse game

Exactly and in my humble opinion a complete waste of time.

Yes, the sports channels still seem to work fairly well. The other channels all seem to freeze every few minutes.

Given that the channels I watch such as History and H2 have been down for 3 days already and apparently may be down for some time, the football is the only reason I'll have to renew soon. Even then it msy only be an hourly package at 30bt for the 3pm game. Acestreams work well for me for all the others.

With Acestreams do you have to install iLivid download. I cannot seem to watch anything as it keeps insisting I install this software.

Looks fishy to me.

I don't like Songkran. The first time it was ok for the first 1 hour but after realizing just how drunk people get and them driving and ice cold water.. ugh.

Last year a full 2 weeks before songkran, I was driving on Soi Bukhao towards Pattaya Tai and a woman threw a bucket of ice water at me, into my eyes and caused a big accident and then had the gall to blame me. Why would I be surprised by ice water at songkran?

After adding insult to injury and having to get my bike repaired and having to pay for the injured.. I swore, I'd just eat sandwiches in my room for a month when Songkran rolled around or hopefully spend it overseas. As it so happens, I'm overseas now and I'm returning after Songkran. Hope to keep that arrangement going for a long time.

Did your motorbike helmet not protect you against the ice water?

Very sorry for your accident.

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I'm an Aussie and have had no problems since installing the Chrome extension Hola - works like a dream with everything I need, but admittedly I have not tried it with the program you mention.

That's got me half way there I can now watch the commercial but not the program...

Buy a month at www.hidemyass.com , it's a vpn service with servers all over the world. You'll be able to choose from multiple Australian locations to find one that's nice and fast.

A sandbox or vm is totally different to proxy/vpn and neither will solve your problem.

I looked at that but not willing to spend money...looking for free solutions.

The sandbox was a safety measure to install the Trojan infected VPN program.

Hola on Chrome does not work for me either.

Everything in that market is a copy..

Even the people that work there? They look a bit robotic to me at times.

Get VLC player on the iPad.

Download what you want to watch to your PC/laptop - then connect iPad to it and transfer to the VLC app. Takes only a few moments. This is one way of doing it.

Good idea but he has no laptop or pc.

Have a friend with an Ipad. He would like to download movies and music to his Ipad.

Is this possible and is there an app. on Itunes App. store to allow this please.

Any helpful replies are appreciated.

For God's sake, read the posts before replying and update yourselves of the facts.

......'people have suggested'......'I've asked several people'......'This should mean that ASEAN nationals from other countries will be able to come to work in Thailand with no need for a visa or work permit. Do you honestly see the Thai Government allowing other nationals to take the jobs of Thai workers?.......

Agreements have already been reached and are well documented. Let's leave fantasy and summations aside and stick to the facts.

I'm done!

Yes. You are. December 2015 will be an interesting time.

I guess I should clarify. I was risking nothing. They weren't going to do anything to me. They were trying to look intimidating and failing at it. I know this because 1: I was there, and 2: I went on my merry way without any problems. Not paying the $7 meant an extra 9 or 10 minutes. And yeah, I do feel much better walking away knowing they can't pull one over on me. It's not a matter of me not wanting to part with that money, it's about not wanting it feeding the kleptocracy. If you would rather pay that money, that's totally fine. Not sure though why people are confused about why someone would want to stand on principle. Oh, and if you would have paid because you're afraid of what they might do to you, I suggest you grow a pair.

I spent four years in Cambodia, haven't been back in a while, and won't for a long time - in four years, I lost five friends to the Cambo Police, or Military - Cambodia is a place ou can disappear easily or be killed at the blink of an eye..............in the back of every Cambodian's brain is a Pol Pot just looking for an excuse to come out, maybe not today, maybe tomorrow or next year, but come out it will. You have been warned, no one loses face like a Cambodian with badge.

... and these guys are talking about taking the risk over $7.... then state confidently there is no risk and preach about right and wrong in a country which exterminated millions of their own people not too many years ago.

Perhaps people should be warned about taking the OP's (and others) advice to stand your ground and argue with border officials over $7.

Simple answer is if you are concerned about the $7 or the scam stay in Thailand. No doubt Cambodia is a nice place to visit but with the hassles at the border I prefer to stay in Thailand the majority of the time.

I have been through the border several times at Chong Chom and they always try it on. Considering the fun I have in Cambodia and the money I save there compared to Thailand the $7 is irrelevant to me.

getting more expensive in town, maybe 5 or 10 baht more for buying " local" things out of town eg the barber is 50 baht now, a increase of 10 baht in the 9 years i have been married.

riding your bike through endless backroads = priceless

almost no english sub titles at the movies = annoying

i love bkk, exciting, heaps to do, but give me home amongst the rice fields, with a snake or two or some pla too

not a perm farang yet, its getting close

If you look at the movie boards on the ground floor and at the cinema you will find "soundtrack" next to some movies. This indicates the movie is in English.

I understand many of the movies do not have English subs which is annoying.

Well, I see all the super nice TVF members are on this thread to spread their joy and cheer.

When she usually comes up she takes the bus from Pattaya to Wang Saphung, which is 40 kilometers from our home up here. The cost is 1100 baht round trip and everybody is happy.

This particular trip, I asked her to get a bus to Udorn, (where she could watch the little naked children and chickens running around the streets), because I had to be in Udorn on her day of arrival anyway.

Our plan was fine until the bus company cancelled her bus at the last minute and the next available bus wasn't until the following morning.

Not wanting to spend the night at the bus station in Pattaya, she went home to the 3 mililon baht house I bought her and spent the night in her own home, admiring her chanote.

I had to be in Udorn anyway so had to make the trip whether she arrived or not. It is a 220 kilometer round trip for me to Udorn.

Her bus was late leaving Pattaya so she was late arriving in Udorn. The last two buses in Udorn going to Nong Bua Lamphu were fully booked so she looked for other alternate means of transport.

She found transport saying he wanted 300 baht per person to drive them to NBL, which seemed reasonable to me.

I then drove the 40 kilometers from my home here to NBL to meet her. When she arrived in a tuk-tuk, it was something of a surprise but she arrived safely.

Perhaps a little background music will help sooth the savage beast. She is 22 years old, has lived 9 years with me In Saudi Arabia, flying back and forth three times yearly, has a car, motorbike, two refrigerators and the aforementioned house with chanote.

She is hardly a deprived child.

My attempt in writing the trip details is to show that when these girls make a trip up-country to see their families, it isn't always as simple as getting in the limo and telling your driver where you want to go...as so many of you do.

Too many of you need to lighten up and get a life. If you can't, please see my signature beneath this post.

Edit in: She doesn't work in a bar so the more depraved minds can relax on that as well.

Great and very long post explaining your actions and how kind you are to her.

But you still made her travel a very long way by bus which is both dangerous and tiring. Why did you not simply give her some money and let her fly up to Udon?

I would never allow my daughter to take that journey by bus. Reason is I love her too much to place her life in danger and i would have been at the airport to pick her up as well.

So I guess the answer is no one has any idea where to buy a Vornado 660 in Thailand.

I was very impressed with the YouTube review...turn iron and get a breeze anywhere in the room from a small quiet fan.

So ve written to the company. If I get any positive news, I'll post it.

Very interested to hear if you can get one or a similar type here in Thailand.

I want one.

Actually I would like a rechargeable battery operated fan for when we lose power here in the village.

Anyone know of one i can buy in Thailand please?

Lasted seven years, came back last fall.

Cost of living is cheaper here,

Huh????

.

Please don't edit my posts. Forum rules require you quote them in their entirety.

You know, this particular misperception is an ongoing argument on TV. And it is usually made by people with mediocre job histories, and/or a miserable existence in their homeland, making retiring to Asia and "enjoying" forty baht meals out, 150 baht massages, and 1000 baht "girlfriends," a good deal.

All the foods I like are available here at no up charge. In Thailand they carry a 300% up charge---even before Villa or Foodland grab their own take.

On Friday, I bought a very nice Chilean Malbec, on sale, for $4.19. That's 125 baht. IN LOS, the same wine was close to 700 baht. I bought an excellent cheese on special, thick smoked bacon for a dollar a pound, and a steelhead trout filet for $4 (fresh, not farmed). That's far less than what I paid at Villa.

My gym does not require a membership, and so has no pesky salesman. It has a flat rate of $15 per month. I, like all members, have a key, making it available 24/7.

When I use UPS or FedEx here, they are reliable and reasonable. Nothing gets stolen, or nailed for extra fees.

When I pay a serviceman here to do work on my vehicle, or my lawnmower, or my plumbing or electric, it is almost always done expeditiously, safely and right, the first time. This, as opposed to going through a series of workers who not only don't get it right, but often make a problem worse.

In LOS, I never had my '65 Honda motorbike running correctly, because the mechanics were incompetent or dishonest. Or both. This increases a tradesman's "bargain" rates considerably, making them no longer a bargain.

One time when I went to pick up my bike after some work, I noticed the original Honda seat was replaced by junk, and my seat was on the bike of the mechanic's buddy. When I pointed this out, they did this: . When I insisted they put it back on my bike, they became confrontational. I had to pay a cop to get my seat back. I don't think I have never had that experience at a Honda bike shop in the USA.

I bought a new gas BBQ last week at Home Depot. Regular cost was $99. On sale for $69. What's a gas BBQ in Thailand? I know the answer: about 10,000 baht for junk. The price goes up from there. The dumbbells I bought in LOS? One there cost as much as six here.

If I buy something at most stores here, there is a no-questions-asked return policy. I have returned to the local Smith's Supermarket, a number of items I found unsatisfactory. Always a smile when handing back my money. As such, I am a loyal customer. In November after returning to the States, I was checking out some groceries, and the bill was fifty-some dollars. I jokingly asked the checker if he had any coupons. He reached in his apron pocket, and swiped one across the scanner, and my bill dropped to $32. This is now a regular occurrence.

Gas where I live is almost half the price it is in Thailand. It is lower in other states.

In Thailand used vehicles carry a ridiculous price. Last week, I bought a '66 Chevy Bel Air. It had sat in an old lady's garage for years, and has 38,000 original miles. I paid $3700 for it. Now I have my eye on a '65, fully restored Chev pickup. $7000. Far less than a used pickup in average condition in Thailand. Both are investments that will never lose me money.

The Asian market I shop in Salt Lake City, actually has lower prices than back at Rhek Thum's "fresh market." And they are the same brands.

Here the tennis courts are free, and in good condition.

Here, cops don't stop me when I'm driving legally, unlike Thailand where they attempt to extort money. And here, Avis doesn't even think of extorting me for a pre-existing scratch, when I return a rental to the airport, just because I speak English.

My dentist here does not try to drill out non-existent cavities, nor pull a cracked tooth that can be repaired (if you have good training), nor spends a mere 15 minutes "cleaning" my teeth. Here it takes a solid hour,and is done right, so I only have to go twice a year rather than every couple of months.

This summer I'm out to buy a piece of land and build a vacation home. It's mine when I'm done, though my wife's name will also be on it. And where we are building, land is cheaper per acre than the rubber tree land where I lived in Rhek Thum. Don't believe me? Do your due diligence and research it, and you'll find my claim holds water.

Most of the nutritional products I take that keep me free of those expensive American doctor bills, are not available in Thailand. The few that are, are substantially lower in price here than in LOS. After feeling like crap the past few years, I am once again healthy and have my vitality back. That has great economic value.

The firearms I buy to go hunting and target shooting are at the very least, 1/3 the price they are in Thailand. The books I read are cheaper when new at the store, and a once-read paperback bought at a garage sale is 10 baht.

The tools I will use to build my house, Makita, Ryobi, and Milwaukee, are much less expensive here in the States. And if they break, the warranty work is done locally and in days. Usually they just hand over a new tool. The building material selection is far more diverse here, enabling both short-term and long-term savings.

Are there exceptions? Are there things cheaper in LOS?

Sure. Instant water heaters, air conditioners, unhygienic meals out, short-time"girlfriends," and massages. There are others, such as contact lenses, but as a whole do not measure up to a genuine savings.

Many items may be cheaper, but are built so cheaply they have a crap service life. Water pumps, clothing, and electrical items are a good example. Speaking of clothing, I bought new Levis last month. On sale, plus a coupon, $22 a pair. Good luck with that in LOS.

Want to retire to a warm climate that has reasonable prices? Try Port Charlotte, Florida. Check out the land and housing prices, and all the free services and discounts for seniors. Thailand does not even come close.

You are right and if you have a family with kids in schools and a mortgage on your house it gets even far worse!

My brother, who lives in Belgium, was here this summer and has a family with 3 kids like me, but older kids. We live a frugal life to cope with all the increasing cost and spend at least 50% more than my brother!

What are the differences, even mostly using local ingredients for our food? Meat is the same price, vegetables and fruit are more expensive here than in most of the western world, same as milk, beer, cheese, cereals, let alone wine...

Than you have high interest, 7% on our mortgage and only 100,000 Baht is tax deductable on relative high income tax of up to 35%.

Try to buy a car that doesn't guzzle gas and you pay twice the European price, if you finance it you pay extreme interest too.

Send kids to bi-lingual or international schools in stead of the Thai schools where they at least learn something else than standing in line and barking the alphabet and you are bankrupting yourself... I recently discovered that International schools in Holland, my home country, are less than half the price of Thailand....

The problem in Thailand is that it is run by a small group that skims all the money out of the country's lower and middle class. They own the whole chains from animal food to meat in the shop and from fertilizer to vegetables and fruit in the shop. Thai products are cheaper in the US and Europe, how is that possible? Because those countries make sure there is competition in most sectors in the economy. The ruling class in Thailand makes sure they have no competition and by doing so robbing their own people dry!

[/v], ,

I am simply too busy in Thailand now having fun and living much more cheaply than in my home country to read your very long post. And playing tennis at the free tennis courts.

What is your point please?

ASEAN will be a success because it is more democratic than the EU. Each country has its own say.

The day there is a president of ASEAN making all of the decisions is the day it will fail, like the EU.

Yes, it will move more slowly, but what's wrong with that?

Also, ASEAN is simply about business, not one identity with one currency.

The countries of ASEAN will be business partners, not fools.

Never ever forget how much they dislike and mistrust each other.

And how very superior our host country believes they are in relation to the other asian countries.

It will be an unmitigated failure in reality but the countries will commend each other in public.

Hotels normally put extra beds in a room when requested....have you tried this option?

HL

But pretty difficult to put another bathroom in, right? Try to send an email with such a request in English and wait for an answer. Good luck....

Where are the Buriramians now when you need them???

Most likely looking on their local forum.

So I guess the answer is no one has any idea where to buy a Vornado 660 in Thailand.

I was very impressed with the YouTube review...turn iron and get a breeze anywhere in the room from a small quiet fan.

So ve written to the company. If I get any positive news, I'll post it.

Very interested to hear if you can get one or a similar type here in Thailand.

I want one.

This topic about leaving or not leaving Thailand is beginning to remind me of the TV show M*A*S*H --

The Korean War lasted 3 years but the TV series M*A*S*H about the Korean War lasted 11 years.

And still being shown daily around the world too.

I wonder has anyone seen a battery operated large fan here?

In the village we have may power failures and a battery operated fan would be great.

Does not take long to work up a sweat once the power goes out.

Looking for some opinions please as to the reliability and quality of the IPTV service.

http://www.iptv-thailand.com/

It seems to offer all the channels that I want. Actually looking in to this for a close friend.

Does anyone have the service and if so could you please share your experiences.

Need some assistance please. Have used the search function but would like some up to date opinions please.

Tyres for my Isuzu 2010 pick up are now 4 and a half years old and have done 63000 kms. No cracks at all.

All tyre shops say I need new tyres based on the age of the tyres not the actual tyres themselves which have a good amount of tread and no cracks.

1. Do I actually need new tyres? All of my friends say tyres are fine.

2. If I do need new tyres should I stick with Bridgestones or look at other brands?

Bridgestones best price is 19800 baht fitted and balanced and a free wheel alignment.

Goodyear 15480 fitted and balanced and free wheel alignment also.

Any helpful and informed replies are much appreciated.

Thanks.

Took my PC to the shop today and got another 2GB of ram.

Computer now considerably faster and many thanks to all who gave me invaluable advice.

Regards to all.

Current PC is around 8 years old and is slow. Running windows 7 with only 2gb. of ram

Processor Intel® Core 2 CPU 6600@ 2.40 GHz

64 bit operating system Have a 20" monitor which is fine.

Could some informed boards members please give me some specs. for a new system? And best places to purchase please?

I only use the PC for accessing the net and downloading.

Any helpful replies are appreciated.

To the people that have moved back to their home countries and appear to be happier there now good luck to you all.

Why do you feel the need to tell us of your momentous and life changing decision?

Are you also acknowledging that you made mistakes coming to live here and by continuing to live here for many years perpetuated that mistake?

Your version of happiness is clearly not shared by the majority of posters here.

So what if anything are you hoping to achieve by your posts?

And if you are now happily ensconced in your home countries why are you still posting on a Thailand forum?

Sounds par for the course; one coward Thai only slapped him because there was several of them to back him up. Just sad.

I don't know. If a foreigner is abusive and loud in a public place doesn't he deserve a slap or two? He may have had a beef with the owner of the phone stall, but why should that involve everyone else in earshot? That is no way to behave no matter what his problem.

He most certainly did not deserve a slap. In fact I would suggest that would be called assault and in a normal country the offender would be hauled before a court to answer for his cowardly actions.

As for raising his voice in a backward and violent country with little consumer protections I agree he should have known better.