rick99

OP here again.   She’s 24.  5years university. 39kg. Fantastic wife and will stick with the gym.  She works out harder than everybody but me.   The idea of increasing her weight with toned muscle will increase her curves and shape. She’s already gorgeous but too skinny.   Nice abs and shapely legs and butt will all be improved and maintained. I included the word “stubborn “ because she doesn’t listen  to my training suggestions (which are based on decades of workouts..) She would listen to an older experienced knowledgeable Thai role model....just about sets and weight amounts and proper muscle isolation techniques) .  It wouldn’t take long.  Actually after the last six days she already looks toned.   But she needs to increase fat and protein... etc.    sorry no bedroom aerobics needed yet but gee thanks for the kind and thoughtful offers.  LOL. We own a second place at the Base.  Perhaps I should simply ask for a thai wife (who’s into fitness )come show her a bit and then grab lunch together.  She doesn’t need any motivation to lose fat or workout.  Just proper techniques in thai.   Thanks for all the suggestions.   

My lovely young slim thai wife has decided to go to the gym (with me or alone.... I think it’s great! ). However, she’s lifting dumbbells and using exercise machines completely incorrectly. Plus won’t eat a proper diet to increase muscle. Does anybody know a knowledgeable Thai speaking person who can show her proper techniques. I think that an hour or two would do it.  Especially if another Thai lady.  Doesn’t have to be a pro ( if your Thai wife is truly knowledgeable about correct weight lifting techniques she can make a quick thousand baht) .  But open to all suggestions. 

I think that the main point is not moving away from family. ....but moving to a better part of Thailand.   For you and your child and wife.  I've searched all over Thailand for the best place to live.  A clue of what to look for is where both thai and foreigners want to visit and holiday at.  My isaan wife loves living in this beautiful beach front location.  Her family are in awe.  She's free to go home any time to visit.  But tends to go less often and for shorter durations.  It will be the best place for us to raise our baby.  We enjoy the gorgeous views and the cool ocean breezes.  The seafood is abundant and theatres and international events are here in abundance.   I like isaan. ....but i could not live there unless I spoke the dialect fluently. ....loved farming and dust and poverty.  Choosing a lifestyle improvement is always positive for all family members.   I'd suggest a trial run to see the positIve or negative effects.  There are other discussions about getting away from family. ....I agree.  But most importantly is always stepping forward and upward in all decisions. 

I'm recently legally married and believed that my foreign freehold condo purchases were safe as they were purchased well before meeting this lady.  Clear paper trail.  Is there any way that these properties can be sold or mortgages without my knowledge or permission?

Also wondering about cars in my name.  Any preventative measures needed.  

I never buy a condo until entirely finished.   Way too risky.  Especially this building you're discusing .   Tulip marketed a huge project called centara grand just up the beach from me    .   I almost was stupid enough to buy.  As far as I can see not much has happened there. There's still units available at the Base.   It's totally finished and ready to occupy.   Be very wary in this market. 

I hope it's ok to share this information.  I was looking to remount a diamond into a new setting. 

After going to many shops that had no knowledge of gold work and exhorbitant prices  ( especially the huge ridiculous gems gallery )  I found a shop that had a good review.   Called StarGems. ....on beach road. ....A few shops towards walking street from royal garden.  It is an owner operated shop.  Thai with wife.  He was extremely knowledgeable and prides himself with long term repeat customers.   Price was substantially lower.  And fantastic results.  Honest and no games.    Just FYI to other expats living here.  Not easy to find in our busy city anymore. 

I need a shop that can cut and weld a hefty piece of steel to secure my front bull bars on my new truck. 

The original shop has used extremely thin metal that will surely bend at the slightest touch. 

A shop that fixes large trucks or even general purpose welding is needed.  Maybe some off road 4x4 shop. 

I have no idea.   This is needed preferably in na jomtien but I'm not fussy as long as the shop can make this strong.   Currently a slight hit would do more damage then not having it. 

Thank you. 

I had read earlier that air Asia had two outlets .  but after having problems at tuk com I phoned air Asia and they informed me the only true booth is at tesco lotus by kfc .  The lady in tuk com made a mistake on my booking date. This resulted in me paying a much higher fare . ...then an additional several thousand In change fees.   let the buyer beware .  be warned .  there's only one official booth .  my experience at tuk com was a nightmare .  

I'm thinking about an upgrade .   This would entail selling my current foreign freehold condo . .....and purchasing another more expensive one . 

Anybody done this  ? Please advise.

Will my original tor tor Sam be still used for the second purchase  ?   

I will try to answer the question posed. What I have done is to look at my old bank books (which i was lucky to keep for some reason)......then I found the dates of money transferred into thailand for the past four years. Kasikorn bank then looked up all these dates and issued tor tor sam for each one. They charged me around 1000 baht to do about 4 or 5 different dates.

Bank of Bangkok actually gave me a tor tor sam for the deposit money that was converted in sweden by my buyer, then sent to my kasikorn account. The two banks worked together to do this. I am in a small town and it is amazing how helpful the banks will be.

My problem is that i am buying a pretty expensive condo and still need the tor tor sam from my house sale. The bank will issue me one if i get the buyer to transfer direct from sweden.

Looks like i may have to go to the money exchange.........this is an option that i was totally unaware of.

Off topic a bit, but it makes me frustrated that the Thai can go to my country and simply buy anything and hold freehold, fee simple. I can understand the fear of china buying up all land, but other countries have a great law stating "if you let us buy in your country, you can buy in ours". To me, this is fair and reasonable. Let's face it, they don't even give us a share in the common areas, just let us buy a box in the sky. Very silly to jump through currency hoops to do this. I bought a fee simple, outright ownership in a condo in Hawaii, not my country.....but did not even have to go there. Simply sent the money to an escrow agent and all done quickly and stress free.

OK. THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH !!!

I have already got a stack of Tor Tor Sams from past years when I brought money into my Kasikorn bank. If the money is brought from my usa account to my thai account the service is free for a 3 month period. They also charged only a few hundred baht to go back a few years and issue for Old money brought in.

The funny thing is that Bank of Bangkok issued a Tor Tor Sam through my Kasikorn bank when I recieved the original house deposit from Sweden to my account. So strange thngs can happen.

I have seen other articles stating that the Tor Tor Sam can be transferred from another persons name, but has to arrive in my account with my name as recipient (this appears to be true from my recent experience).

I am so grateful to hear that money exchange places can do this. I hope to not have to use them, but am so happy that I have an option. I am still talking about 5 million though from the house sale . How would I bring that to an exchange service ???

thank you

Hi, I am trying to purchase a foreign freehold condo. I sold my house (in thai name with lease) to the new owner (thai wife gets chanote and foreign husband gets lease).

The buyer, at first, agreed to send money direct from Sweden to my account in Thailand. Then I could get the Tor tor sam for foreign freehold purchase (I have already put a deposit on a foreign freehold condo). But now the buyer is insisting that money be sent to his thai account and then transferred to my thai account (his friend told him this is the best way to safely buy my house). I think this means that I am in big trouble and cannot get the Tor Tor Sam for the land office. Is this true??? Is there a way that I can still get Tor Tor Sam document if the money goes through his bank and then into mine ? If so, how do I do this? Losing sleep over this one. Any comments or suggestions greatly appreciated.

I was wondering if there are any agents that really know the market in cha am and hua hin. In america and canada you can simply search the multiple listing service and see almost everything for sale. I want to purchase a seaview condo and can spend 9 to 12 million baht (thinking of between hua hin and cha am), but I am going crazy looking at websites. Is there an alternative? I don't mind paying a reasonble commision for an honest and hardworking agent. Do they exist. If you know one please pm me.

Ok, Thank you so much for the great advice. It took a long time to sell the beach front house, and it was a beauty.....also had to drop my price....a lot.

I am happy to hear about the specific buildings you mention, and welcome more suggestions. I started out four years ago with the intent to purchase a condo, but after seeing several buildings that had fallen apart I decided on a house. However, once again looking for foreign freehold. I have heard that Pattaya is overbuilding, and that prices have remained pretty steady. Is this true of all condo prices, or more toward a particular price range?

Again, thanks, and all advice gratefully received.

I hope somebody can help me out here. I just sold my house in the south and want to relocate to a nice sea view condo. My worry, and why I did not look at condos before, is maintenance of buildings. I have seen condo buildings simply looking like crap several years after people buy. So my question is this. Can anybody recommend a really good existing building? I want a good sized unit (big) and one with a really great sea view (my house was beach front....I just love to read and look at the sea...and exercise). I can spend 10 million or more, but I do not want one that is not maintained to keep its value. Thanks for any suggestions.

Is it possible to use an agent to sell land instead of appearing in person at the land offic???. My thai wife wants to sell, but does not want to miss work in Canada (she is thai/canadian) to come to the land office (expensive and long flight too). Can documents be sent to Canada and witnessed at say the consulate or by a lawyer or something (as is standard practice in america), and then can an agent or lawyer or anybody else represent the seller at the land office?????

any knowlegeable advice greatly appreciated

Wow. Great games so far. But, I have only been able to listen on radio (Vancouver 1040 has live play by play streaming). I spent hours trying to get a free live feed. Can anybody tell me how to easily get the next game live (and be able to watch it). I have Gold TrueVisions (so the only channel I don't get is ASN....which of course shows the games).

Please help

I have a 30 year lease on property in my tgf's name. She has now included the domestic help in the housebook (although I cannot get my name in there). Is this a concern?? She tells me that it does not matter who is in the housebook...they just need an address for stuff. Any thoughts on this????

thanks everybody. I just found out from the light manufacturer that their installation instructions clearly state that a metre and a half of extra wire should be wound arount the light base.....so just have to unscrew the fixture and raise to the surface. EXCEPT..... my pool company did not leave any extra wire....plus used silicone to attach the light to the tiles......the screw holes remain unused.

Next step?????

They want to put holes in the deck....dig down and add more wire to a new junction box. Is this the best idea?

I have been told by two companies that they want me to drain the pool to change the light bulb. Can this be true??? Are there really companies that do not leave wire to change above the surface?? The lights are from China and are not recessed....they are called JAZZI jl series. Currently they are attached by silicone to the tile.....i cannot see screws....but there appear to be plastic circles where screws should be.

any suggestions????

If i have to drain the pool i want to change all the lights. What is a good brand name with 12volt 100 amp? ps.....could I still use my same wires and transformers if i replace the lights?????

thanks for any help

OK....This should get some good responses.....especially the how many &^%$&^$ does it take to change a light bulb jokes.

So usually I just unscrew the light...raise it to the surface and change the light bulb.

BUT....I have the Jazzi under water light (the ones with different colored filters)....100 amp, 12v.

I cannot see any screw, it appears to be attached with silicone....Anybody know this type of light.

Maybe I just unscrew the lens, but I don't know.

Any help will be appreciated.

rick

Hi....me again,

So I bought the best water available for my pool start up; and it was beautiful.......clear and perfect. But then no one showed up to start the pool. I had no chemicals and no test kit. I watched the water turn green and then cloudy. After two days they finally started working on the ph and now have added algicide and a ton of trichlor. It still looks and smells terrible.....like a chemical bath (very cloudy and green). The first test (after the two days of sitting in the hot sun) showed some weird colour of PH.....not even on the test kit......and no chlorine.

The builder and his water expert tell me that this is standard start up. I am not happy because the water was perfect.....now has gone bad....and they are trying to recover it. So........at what point is water bad.....and cannot and should not be saved???

Hmmmmm any thoughts????