bojo

Laguna estate is 10-15 mins from town, in San sai area. It's quiet, and they have a pool and fitness centre of sorts with sauna, not forgetting a Wawee coffee shop etc. Worth a look. There are loadsa rentals there.

regards Bojo

Contact a decent financial agent in the UK for ' up to the minute' accurate info on what is available.

TV members with recent experiences might be able to give you a 'hot tip' on what is currently avaible, since I'm sure in the fast changing financial market that we live in, the situation is probably changing weekly.

I'd be interested to hear what an expat mortgage is exactly. For example is it applicable only to UK citizens and how much is the minimum deposit and any other requirements etc. Is it the same as a standard 'buy to let mortgage'?

Regards Bojo

You mentioned 'I wouldn't know if this is the right forum,' but as they say.... he who dares wins.

Welcome Pete, aged 28. I notice that most newcomers keep there identity private but you're obviousely very comfortable with who you are! Nice one.

You'll be 'Billy with too many mates' in Bangkok I can assure you, an outgoing person that you are.

Enjoy Thailand for what it is.

Regards Bojo

Sounds to me like you've been fobbed off. The one who told you that he had to talk with the boss, could well be the boss. They might not have even sent the faulty card away.

Any decent shop would have sorted you out immediately.

By sticking with this shop you are dreaming that things will be alright... until the next time and you're still waiting now!

Move on, wipe your mouth and find out locally by word of mouth who to deal with. Maybe some TV members could point you in the right direction.

If you're ever in Chiang Mai, use DSKY NETWORK in Icon, the two guys there are the business.

Regards Bojo

Unbelieveable, does anyone actually know of anyone who's wife received commission for duping their husband into buying real estate without their husband knowing they're on the other team. You can't blame the marketing for trying though but it says alot about what they think of foreign purchasers I'd say, and even more about the wives.

Can you imagine finding out once you'd paid up and moved in that your wife had 15% of the value of the condo that you'd paid for, in her bank account! I say it again... unbelieveable... what do some people marry!

Regards Bojo

It's quite common to wait for an area to be surveyed. One area will be surveyed/upgraded to Chanote and then often years later an area close by will have it's turn. A property next to a Chanote title can be upgraded easily from Nor Sor Sam at any time. If many land owners get together and ask for upgrade at once, usually the land office will oblige. Often title deeds have been issued illegally in the past, especially bordering national parks and officers now have to abide by the law far more than in the past.

Regards Bojo

Lastly The clients are staying in another 5 star hotel elsewhere in Bangkok, I do hope they do not smash anything up !!!!!!!................. Excellent!

Touche (I'm sorry I don't have a French keyboard)

Regards Bojo

Isn't Pim (Co owner) of Citylife magazine (Chiang Mai) a Thai national?

I've read her editorial on a few occasions and am in awe of her command of the English language.

Even better than the OP I'd say.

Regards Bojo

A scent of Nigeria maybe?

Regards Bojo

A decent foreign owned law firm such as Mcevily and Collins will possibly cost you more than the amount you are trying to recover (I don't know that figure) and a local Thai firm would probably not be good enough to get the job done or at least influential enough.

A medium rated Thai law firm would cost approx 15K minimum just to get the ball rolling (not just sending threatening letters) with more billls as the saga continues.

Good luck but weigh up your costs properly first, sometimes it's just best to 'wipe your mouth' and move on with experiences gained.

Regards Bojo

As I remember 2 years ago there was a sign said this place belong to Project Pacific Property.

But there's no longer sign so I guess it's sold.

It was there longer than 2 years.

Could well be, as Sin (Project pacific) is of Chinese descent and the building looks Chinesey to me. He used to live opposite years ago long before 99, not sure if he still does.

regards Bojo

I too stayed at Fern resort which has won some 'eco friendly ' awards if I remember rightly.No TV's and bed sheets changed every 3 days to save on everything. It's just outside of town and we paid 1800b per night, a little over priced in my mind but a cute place. Breakfast was very average though, buffet but they we're counting the toast!

The Imperial's in town but I'm not a lover of multi storeyed hotels. I took a lonely planet type guide book and that was pretty much all that was available apart from bungalows, again overpriced for the condition and a couple of lower end hotels in town. I have to say that I was unimpressed with the town, it's accomodation and not being a bird watcher or mountain walker/ nature park lover I found the place rather dull. The drive however through Pai and beyond and back to Chiang Mai was great though, well worth the trip. Don't go if you suffer from vertigo because some of the mountains have sheer drops either side of the roads!

Regards Bojo

is it a good idea to start a free delivery service to homes and resorts for free on samui or will the lack of road names be a problem????

sat nav work here??????/

Have the courage of your convictions and 'just do it'.

A decent service industry is always welcomed anywhere.

Visit customers prior for address details, should be a cinch.

How nice would it be to have warm fresh bread delivered to your doorstep every morning. Design a top box for a scooter which keeps the bread warm and you'd be onto a winner.

Wire up some kind convector heater inside maybe.

Not given it any thought but I'm sure there's loads a ways

Regards Bojo

I have a friend (yes I have some) coming from UK and she wants a course for a week or two? maybe with certification?

Any ideas about prices/locations?

Thanks in advance

Prices vary greatly from what I can gather, I did some enquiries a year back but can't remember the outcome. However I remember The Thai Massage School Shivagakomarpaj next to the Old Medicine Clinic (same owner I think) situated in the small access road at the back on Nim City Rimping being fairly competitive and seemed professional.

Regards Bojo

The nightclub and all bars down soi solo are closed for the next three days does anvbody know why? There was a thai man shot on saturday night witnessed by myself and my friends as well as all revellers in the nightclub. Are the bars and nightclub closed down due to this?

I'd say you've answered your question yourself. Can't think why else.

regards Bojo

I would suggest that you additionally ask for feedback from fellow Australians as to how they felt about a move to Thailand. I don't know how many frequent TV but I'm pretty sure that their response will be very different from the British for example, of which there are many here on TV.

Having lived on Samui for 9 years I would say that it's a great place for a holiday but you get that 'paradise Alcatraz' feeling after a while and the lack of sophistication can affect some.

Phuket's bigger and faster and definitely more civilised with better infrastructure.

Come and live for yourself (rent for at least a year first)as other members have suggested but don't put all your eggs in one basket, keep some at home.

Regards Bojo

About 6 years ago I sent a bunch of the Saa paper flowers to Sydney. They sold very well. Are they still in fashion?

I have a contact at Chatuchak market who is I still believe the main supplier there. Great service and keen prices but best of all beautiful products. PM if you need her details.

regards Bojo

I bought a mountain bike and cycled everywhere for a few weeks. Thoroughly enjoyable and got my bearings very quickly.

regards Bojo

Not living in Phuket but picking up on this thread and listening to some TV readers who do, I get the impression that they think Phuket is not ready for upmarket clubs. That could well be...

I caught something on the BBC the other day about yachting, marinas and how Phuket is fast becoming the St Tropez of the East. Having recently visited the island and noticing the expensive houses on sale in estate agent windows, it could be that the 'supper club' are in for the long run and have done their market research.

Something I also noticed about Phuket whilst shopping in Jung Ceylon was how much smarter

'ladies of the night' dressed compared to their counterparts I've seen about town in Chiang Mai and Samui.

I can smell money in Phuket, lots of it.

regards Bojo

Try different styles of hand made lamps, they always sell well anytime,anyplace anywhere!! designs and fashions change, just look for something interesting that hasn't been done in the last decade or so. Even design your own and head to Chiang Mai for hand crafted factories. Design something new and create a new market.

Regards Bojo

Not been in C/M too long.I don't know the old 'Escape' or vegas bar, what street will Swanky's open on?

regards Bojo

I flew Eva to London at Xmas. Great except for the smell throughout the plane in the last half of the flight. They really needed to change the cabin air, far too much wind. Is that common with Eva

or a one off? I imagine it's a cost saving exercise -reheating high altitude air but.........

regards Bojo

Obviousely get a licence but even with first class insurance, in the event of a third party death or serious injury, whether the insured is Thai or a foreigner the insurance company has a limit as to how much they will pay out to them/family. I think it's around a million baht.

If someone believes they are entitled to more then the balance has to be paid by yourself. Could be millions if a rich person is involved/ not sure how the event would turn out in court. Anybody know of any such occurence and how it turned out.\?

regards Bojo

I don't mean put your recommendation down, but I think the reason that Napa and other Schools are more expensive is because they have qualified trained teachers, 1st class facilities and play equipment, hygiene standards and medical staff, swimming pools, gyms, computers and provide food and security.

Horses for courses as the saying goes!

Absolutely, especially in the case of NIS as it's facilities are better than Lanna, however 33K for only 22 days or so of camp equates to 1500b per day.

Not being religious I was concerned that maybe religion would be shoved down my daughters throat in exchange for a cheap summer camp. I have watched a couple of classes and seen some of the work that she brings home and there has been no religious instruction whatsoever.

I have brought the camp to the attention of Chiang Mai residents as the options are limited in the city and the reason I don't want her to go to Lanna is because it starts at 8.30am. Not much of a summer holiday for her getting up so early.

regards Bojo

A charity based organisation 'Projects for Asia' is holding a summer camp from Monday June 29th for 1 month from 10am until 4pm daily for kids aged 4-8. The cost is only 500b per week and is subsidised by the foundation. My daughter has been going there part time over the last 10 days and has really enjoyed it. They have loads of staff there and everything is taught/spoken in English.

Very handy for the long summer holidays. However kids need to take their own lunch.

Other summer camps are Lanna 15k and Nakorn Payap (NIS) 33K for the month!

The phone number there is 053 357 646 and the school is at the entrance to Hillside 4, right on the Huay Kaew Road.

Regards Bojo