MichelBangkok

Live in the LOS (sic) for more than 25 years, at the beginning on work, and then on retirement; two years ago my country lost my old passport during the renewal process, so when back with the new passport without any visas, was granted a visitor's visa and had to restart the retirement visa extension from scratch; thanks to the gods I speak fluently (read as well) Thai, so the process was relatively painless although some run around to banks, spouse and others to get all the seemingly never-ending list of required documents; the whole day started at 8:30h AM (first to come in - Nonthaburi Immigration) and ended just prior to closing time... Except for this "experience", usually the yearly visa extension is a breeze, naturally if you come early, before the long Q's start to build up. Nonthaburi is a small office, and the assigned personnel tend to remain on duty many years, so developing some "personal" contacts through small talk has proven to be useful over the years to smooth out potential hurdles...

On 8/13/2016 at 6:57 AM, Ronuk said:

Unless the law has changed, as a non Thai, I am pretty certain the electricity Bill can never be in your name?

The electricity bill is under my name, as I am the owner of our house; only the land is owned by the lovely Thai wife !  And this for the last 14 years...  The previous 10 years, house and land were under the Thai spouse name, as well as all bills attached...

I used to deposit my personal Canadian cheque written to myself in my Bangkok Bank account. It used to cost US$10 to deposit the cheque and I would receive the money in less than 30 days. Then all of a sudden things changed. I was charged US$75 for this service by Bangkok Bank. It seems that the Bank of Nova Scotia is no longer the corresponding bank, and The Toronto Dominion Bank replaced them along with a hefty US$ service charge to clear a cheque.

I don't know what it is like for personal cheques from other countries but this is the heads up whats happening on depositing cheques from Canada.

Exact same experience with Bangkok Bank at this end and RBC (Royal Bank of Canada) at the other. Told (more than six months ago) by Bangkok Bank (headquarters) that the fee to deposit such personal cheque has been substantially lifted and would remain high. Now use SWIFT transfers, more expensive, but you control the exchange rate, with a narrow window of a few days max for the entire process to be completed.

The correct answer is neither. Thai women don't have the qualities of loyalty and commitment. It doesn't matter much whether they are from Bangkok or elsewhere.

To some degree it is cultural. To a larger degree It is survival. Thai woman are always on the lookout for better opportunities.

Farang beware...

Loyalty and commitment come with family upbringing, education and personal traits shaped by the circumstances of life. Hard to find but existing in this country, again at the person level; as for the society in general, true that these qualities seem evasively not present as a characteristic of the Thai psyche. My own experience has been with a pure bankokian, university level, fluent in English but we never speak this second language (for the both of us), always in Thai...for 25 years now, and counting !

What goes around comes around.

I would have tied him to an ants nest first and then beaten him to death.

The hate that's in these forums is disturbing.

This is what happens when anonymity reigns; the true colours of the "contributors" shine in the open. What happened to "innocent until proven guilty" ? Judged by the 24 inmates ?

Same experience also at Bangkok Bank two weeks ago with a check on Canadian Royal Bank; was told initially that the old rule applied, only a fee of 303 Baht at this end, but when the check reached the main processing branch downtown was then informed that the "other side" (aka the Canadian bank) would require approximately 7,000 Bahts for the compensation process, a new rule in place allegedly for two months only. They returned my check and reimbursed the 303 baht processing fee and we are now back to SWIFT electronic transfers... No idea if a similar charge would be levied from banks in other countries or if it is a charge imposed only by the Thai side and covered up with a "nice saving the face" message...

"Ivan Todorov Ivanov". Sounds like a real Canadian name to me!!!

"Ivan Todorov Ivanov". Sounds like a real Canadian name to me!!!

Probably from Quebec.

How typical. One guy suggests no true-blue Canuk would do such a scummy thing, the second (probably from Alberta, Canada's Baaabel Belt), covers all basis and suggests if it IS a scummy Canuk, he's from Quebec).

Irony is that both prove dimwitted, moronic tribalism is alive in Canada as anywhere else.

Excellent response - as it is very unlikely that "Ivan Todorov Ivanov" affiliated with "Pavel Plamenov Petrov", seemingly from Bulgaria, speaks any French, while most other "Canucks" from the rest of Canada seem limited to the English language... Really liked the portion : "prove dimwitted, moronic tribalism is alive in Canada as anywhere else." Thank's !

As Salman Rushdie allegedly once said : “No I do not think it is fair to say that Islam is a violent religion, but I do not believe any writer was in danger with his life for writing about the Amishs. »

Watch 5he rich bail to somewhere else

And take their business and jobs with them

Already 1000's of Canadians have left due to high taxes to support the socialistic system

Problem is his father introduced social safety nets... hooray

But no one ever put in a.plqn to.police them.... Boo

As such they are abused to the limit

What is it now... the 4th generation of families that have never worked.one day in their whole. Lives

Fully agree !

I left...26 years ago and, at every visit back home since then, feel it was the right thing to do. Way too socialistic, where the ones not contributing are benefiting the most.

Over almost the last three decades, the system has not improved; it is just the same and getting worse. Health care spendings are out of control, education is a headache, the canadian dollar which was relatively recently at pair with the USD is now 25% lower, the economy is weak, etc...

Trudeau is heading for a continuation of such socialistic approach, so as with many others, I will quietly remain a "visitor" in my native country happily avoiding the huge taxes when, and if, I visit again.

Read the extract rom below and weep....they will only get the Tour Companies to hide the cost of admission by adding it to their Tour price,which they then pay the park,no cash changing hands by the Tourists at the National parks etc!

Panapol said he did not want to get tough with tourists so he would hold a meeting with tourist boast and tourist company operators to discuss how to collect the entry fee from their clients.

As the saying goes.....There's more than one way to skin a ...Farang!!! TIT.

Absolutely !

That is the main reason why at the entrance of National Parks the prices are in thai numerals for the locals ( ๐ ๑ ๒ ๓ ๔ ๕ ๖ ๗ ๘ ๙ ) and in the hindu-arabic numerals ( 0 1 2 3... ) for the "alien" price.

They know quite well that they are doing something wrong and it is their way of trying to hide it, thinking that the foreigners will not see the price gap, or at least that we will not know by how much: yes 10 times more on average between the thai price and the alien one.

Australia has dual pricing, residents of beach side suburbs get a parking sticker for free local parking at the beach. Tourists and visitors from other areas have to pay to come to the beach. In a way it makes sense as the ratepayers carry the cost of the mess that visitors make. It is the basis of the user pays system. I can understand why Thailand charges a different price for visitors.

Sorry MarkEewan it is not just visitors paying 10 times the thai price, it is everyone with an alien look, be it a permanent resident, a tourist or else. I live here for more than 25 years, pay all due taxes, speak fluently (read as well) the language and I am still forced to pay the exorbitant difference. No, I am not a visitor, my family and my life is here.

Since the government is doing this in Parks, everbody else try to do the same malpractice, eg.: restaurants with menus in English at an inflated price and menus in thai at a lower one, taxis, museums, etc...

So far our only recourses are (1) continue to make noise about it, and (2) walk away and not pay the outrageous difference.

Thailand annexed the south from Malaysia around 1903. I say to cede it back to Malaysia. Rubber trees and palm oil is not the future. Read my other posts on the Islamic problem! Moderate Muslims are eerily quiet in denouncing the Jihadists, so it's clear to me they support Jihad. The Koran says so.

All so true, sadly ! Thank's to the British who devised this swap of land. Here a quote from Wikipedia :

"Patani came under Thai rule briefly during the Sukhothai period, and more extensively during the later Ayuthaya period.

In 1791 and 1808, there were rebellions within Pattani against Thai rule, following which Pattani was divided into 7 largely autonomous states (Mueang): Pattani, Nongchik, Saiburi (Teluban), Yala (Jala), Yaring (Jambu), Ra-ngae (Legeh) and Raman. All were ruled by the King of Ligor.

After the British had taken a large part of southern Thailand in 1909, Great Britain and Thailand signed the Bangkok Treaty of 1909. The British recognised Thailand's sovereignty over Pattani, and, in return, Thailand gave up a territory called Kelantan to the British.[15] All seven mueang were reunited into a monthon and incorporated into the kingdom. Later, the central government in Bangkok renamed certain localities with Thai versions of their names and merged some of the mueang."

And then started the so called "insurgency", as the malays of these newly formed provinces never digested their new "Thai" status; lasting up to our days, with almost daily killings.

What has been done has been done; the locals will never cede a centimeter of their precious land to Malaysia. Just look how "aliens", like most of us, are treated, with never a chance to possess a bit of land under our names to house our families...

The hatred is very well established and grounded in more than one hundred years of history.

This monk is just a cherry on the sundae, with a Thai flavor, as usually it is served with a muslim aroma...

Of course my OP assumed that you had a Thai partner

As for not speaking Thai because we are not migrants, (unlike the subjects of the German TV programme in my OP link); whilst most of us are not 'migrants' in the sense of having acquired Thai citizenship, many of us are migrants in all but name, if it is our intention to live permanently in Thailand.

I do not have Thai citizenship (can't tick all the application boxes...), but I consider myself a migrant because this is now my permanent home and I have a long-stay visa.

You can't be a migrant in all but name, you either are, have a new passport, and can stay forever, or you aren't.

You long stay visa means jack, the Junta will have you out tomorrow, if they feel like it.

What you consider (in some delusional universe of your own) means nothing to the government of Thailand.

You have a temporary residence in Thailand.

And it's gonna get harder for you to stay in it.

Someone's paranoid.

Or very, very, very insecure...

As for the original question 100% in Thai only, never using another language (we speak three fluently)... And not just with spouse, extended family but everyone in the Kingdom, unless they are foreigners...

I drove one a few times. My impression. Ok but ride was not fantastic despite no leaf springs. Rear storage area compromised by those fold seats. Would I take one over a crv? Yes because of the diesel engine option.

We removed the folding two back seats, no need to transport 7 people, so we have all the required storage department. CRV is lower driving, almost like a regular car, Fortuner is pick-up height level, so you see the road from way farther away. Would buy again, but this one (2012) is scheduled to last forever... Diesel engine running smoothly, consumption not terrific especially if you drive faster, but what a great vehicle !

1.

24 years.

Songhua you beat me by one year although we know each other for 25 years !

Yes 1....only !

My wife keeps warning me about this sort of thing.

She, a Thai, describes it as:

"The Bantam Rooster Syndrome" in Thailand, where lots of "LITTLE MEN" carry Big Guns in a forlorn attempt, to compensate for.....

certain other, short-comings.

My wife keeps telling me the same. A recent incident in Pattaya that could have easily escalated was when a watch seller dug me in the ribs with the corner of his wooden box of watches, to get my attention because I had my back to him and was deep in thought talking to a mate of mine. I'm sure it was deliberate, it just wasn't a touch. I stood up and confronted him and he started screaming something about "Thailand was still his country". I think that I am pretty street smart after 34 years in the Kingdom, but I was just about to go ballistic when my wife stepped between us and spoke something quietly in Thai to which he walked off grumbling. I told my wife not to do that again but quite rightly she pointed out that he almost certainly would have been carrying a knife.

Funny the mamas-an of this bar on Soi 13/1 was sitting almost next to us, she saw and heard everything and did not say a word. The watch seller had no concern, no fear, that she was sitting there. Get yourself in trouble and you could be all alone. No one gives a shit.

So does mine ! It seems that being hot tempered increases the probability of encountering troubles, irrelevant if this particular incident is a premeditated effort, the result of road rage, or something else. After driving in this country for 25 years, I still am tempted to respond to perceived aggressive conduct in kind, and this is when the Lovely Half jumps in to remind me that something bad can result. I will certainly try to keep cool when the next occurrence will happen...

14 years of study to learn the trick from the specialists here and than get busted on overstay....

Cheating is considered a profession in Thailand, so not a crime ;-)

So True !

My daughter is British/Thai cabin crew for Emirates. To the guy who said what's the world coming to when you can't touch up a 'hostie', please allow me to touch up your 'daughter', 'wife', 'grand daughter', etc etc .... I am sure it is fine.

To the guy who called cabin crew 'hostie' .... they are cabin crew !!

To the guy who said some of the female cabin crew need a shave .... you obviously haven't a clue about the selection process Emirates have in place for their recruitment of cabin crew. I am sure you are god's gift to women and are perfectly groomed.

And to anyone who doesn't rate Emirates, you are really in the minority. They are one of the world's best airlines, with the most investment in aircraft and staff. They have the biggest fleet of A380's, with new aircraft constantly on order. The person who said the economy section is cramped .... do you know the seat width of Emirates aircraft compared to other airlines ??? Really !!!

No passenger is allowed to consume their own alcohol on any airline, so this has nothing to do with airline or where the plane is flying to. Perhaps the problem here is the type of people on the plane, but that you cannot help if you are using Dubai as a hub.

Sent from my iPad using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

Excellent perspective, including pointing to some posts to where they belong - the trashcan ! Incredible that so many TV "members" post so much nonsense.

Completely agree with Romeland - Rule #1 : don't get drunk; Rule #2 : don't grope anyone, anywhere, anytime; Rule #3 If you miss out on Rule #1, pay double attention to Rule #2. Period !

Does that allow all the pro independence PQ members do it to themselves?

There is always someone with an ill-thought remark ready to push on the "add reply" button on TV, just to add a silly statement to the list, and increase his (her) number of posts. Somtamnication being the first example. What does the independence of French speaking Quebec from the rest of English speaking Canada has to do with this topic being "assisted suicide" in the province ?

Not funny and Hopeless...

I walked away from the US after Bush was elected. Never looked back.

And me from Canada for very similar reasons...and also never looked back (25 years and counting !)

Why such a title with so little content ? Just to have us click on the topic ?

Working in Thailand... yes if you don't have all your mental faculties. It's the same as buying property here; only those with no brains would engage in such an act.

Sadly for TV forums, insulting others seems a favorite pastime of some "commentators". We own property, me the house, the spouse the land. I have worked legally at numerous occasions in the LOS, for lengthy periods over the last 24 years, although now happy enjoying retirement... Working in Europe, Australia or North America is also not that easy if you are a foreigner, so no issue with the local Work Permit requirements. This topic is a different issue than the double standards that are openly practiced by the locals, either covering work permits, double pricing at various locations government-managed or not, etc...

"We own property, me the house, the spouse the land." - I would be interested in how you would retain "your house" in the event your relationship broke down, and that is a serious question.

Easy to respond ! The spouse will get the house as a "separation" settlement if she prefers or we sell both assets and she keeps the proceedings. Then, I would relocate and keep most of all of our other assets abroad which are under my name. Just be careful, as many foreigners experienced very challenging times in this country in relation to investments or relationships. On a sarcastic tone, the spouse once told me : "if we ever separate, take your house with you, I will keep the land". This was 10 years ago... But legally, as a foreigner in this country, your are entitled to own a building, but not the land.

Working in Thailand... yes if you don't have all your mental faculties. It's the same as buying property here; only those with no brains would engage in such an act.

Sadly for TV forums, insulting others seems a favorite pastime of some "commentators". We own property, me the house, the spouse the land. I have worked legally at numerous occasions in the LOS, for lengthy periods over the last 24 years, although now happy enjoying retirement... Working in Europe, Australia or North America is also not that easy if you are a foreigner, so no issue with the local Work Permit requirements. This topic is a different issue than the double standards that are openly practiced by the locals, either covering work permits, double pricing at various locations government-managed or not, etc...

1. Medical insurance is a rip off.

2. Even a 1 million baht in saving will cover almost everything.

3. I had a major procedure done at Sirina Karin Hospital Khon Kaen 90,000bt plus 40,000 for sterilized

instruments sent sealed from Johnson and Johnson. 5 day stay private suite.

The main reason I came here from the USA is because health insurance costs were out of control.

Fully agree with prvtdetdave !

We maintained BUPA full coverage for 12 years, for both my spouse and myself, and then we realized that their coverage is good, as long as you do not need it; read the small prints: for example, after the first year of a cancer-type problem, they may stop paying on that particular disease...and their maximum coverage during a given year is usually not that high !

So, for the last 10 years, we did put the equivalent of the very expensive premium BUPA was requesting for the both of us (not that young anymore) in our Bank, pay for our medical bills ourselves and hope for the best. So far we have accumulated a very large sum saved over these ten years...and still counting. A medical insurance provided by a company is certainly a product offered by this company intended to make money; it is a not a governmental scheme to protect citizens.

Why do Thai shopowners have such bad attitudes?

Because most of them are Chinese!!

Strangely (or not) enough, Soi41 may be onto something more serious than he (or she) may have thought initially with such a comment. Many Mom-Pop operated shops are 'managed', whatsoever it means, by older folks, many of them from Chinese ancestry; when you see the little red ancestor's mini-shrines in a corner of the store, you know for sure. And sadly, Chinese global reputation for kindness, politeness, or lack of it - worldwide, not just in China or Thailand - is not matched by their Thai counterparts... In the meantime, Thai or Chinese, a lousy shopowner remains a shopowner to avoid, so vote with you feet...