Pai2009

The first point is to stay away from these agents who try and sell Life Insurance and Medical Insurance combined – they are expensive and do not offer good value except to the agent, who gets very high commissions for selling these types of products (and guess who pays !)

.. I strong disagree to this. Life insurance and medical insurance serve different needs. The first one is about risk-transfer. No other way that you can guarantee large cash supply to your family with small amount of money. Many people could not have enough money to maintain the family's living so this is the way.

Buying medical insurance alone, means you spoil an amount of money year after year if no claim. And there is no guarantee that the company will accept your application next year if you did claim big time. But buying medical insurance with life insurance policy, one you might use money earn from policy in each year to buy medical insurance; two, plan well and you could be accept to buy medical insurance until the age 70.

P.S. non-life insurance has to pay for 'Commission' too but in terms of salary/brokerage fee. No such business firm could run 'expense-free'!!

Good comments here.

The Podology Center

Medical Foot Therapy

ph #053 038 084

San Sai, Chiang Mai

WWW.mft-thailand.com

How come the email address is not deleted as by FORUM RULES??

As the above post there is different rules for differnet business

Back To Topic

There is no podiatrist in CNX.

Just orthopedic surgeon best reputation one so far DR. Suthee

Chiang Mai is terrible.. it's boring, no nightlife worthy of the word 'life', it's polluted, congested, unsafe, ugly with all the concrete box type architecture, ugly electrical and telephone wiring all over the place, stench of (almost) open sewers, many areas in town are prone to flooding, you can't own houses or land, you're effectively illiterate unless you learn the local script, few people speak good English, Fugitive ex PM Thaksin is from Chiang Mai, beer is expensive and not very good, the food's too spicy and comes from open air markets where flies and bacteria are all over, (this is why the only topic you can talk to other expats about is where to find a half decent hamburger), you'll be ripped off for everything you want to buy (including that hamburger), Chiang Mai is an arts & culture Sahara, for nightlife you better really enjoy "Kantoke Dinner" because everything else is a joke, the weather ranges from 'very uncomfortable' to 'downright toxic' with the possible exception of a couple weeks in December or January.. I could go on. Look at Channel 18, even the panda's are depressed, and they're supposedly the main attraction! Yes, a Panda Jail is actually a main attraction, go figure.

Terrible, terrible place.

And TV sports events are on at really awkward times. It's ridiculous.

And there's no beach. But if there was a beach, I bet it would suck, too.

Really the only highlight is the good spirit and general positive attitude of the Western expats in town. Not sure if that swings it for you.

I think most of expats here are quite happy with CNX, surprised you have negative experience.

BKK : traffic is unbearable, expensive,not freindly

Phuket : Tourist junk with lots of gangsters, good hospitals, right by the beach and sea

Huahin : Lovely little sea side town. There is nothing much to do after a the first week. No good hospital.

Pattaya : Tourist junk with plenty of gansters, XX, XY and XY with external XX, beach and sea, good Hospital.

Udonthani : Upcountry with shopping mall, a pretty ok hospital, nothing else, quiet.

Khon Kaen : Big universities town, new shopping mall( central group)plenty of good food with reasonable price, not many expats, not many english speaking local,

good hospital.

Chiang rai: Quiet lovely town, nice weather, not much to do.

Chiang mai : Lovely quiet city, lots of shopping mall and super market, you can find almost everything you want here, good hospital,nightlife in town(if you wish) great food both western and thai(you may ask UG) there are plenty of great food on the side of the road that just come out of the stove/BBQ you only need to find out ( Sticky rice and BBQ chicken for less than 50B a meal). Lots of local speak english, people are friendly and helpful.

Also have great services with good price from SEA TOUR on The Changklan.

You can get everything you want at Bangkok Bank in Kad Suan Kaew. They are English speaking in the main and have many farang customers. I have had an account there for years & have never had a problem. They are open 7 days a week, from 10am until 8pm, and have a lot of ATM & other transaction machines outside the branch for times when they are closed.

Sorry but this branch has become difficult for white people, increasingly Bangkok Bank branches seem to be putting obstacles in front of foreigners wanting accounts. They don't seem to know their own rules. I have an account with Bangkok bank, but it was hard to open even knowing Thai and having a Thai national with an account at the same brach with me.

Siam Commercial will allow anyone to open an account at the moment, but the forms are in Thai, best take a Thai speaker with you if you can't read the forms.

The rules and desires of the banks change very quickly out here, just becuse it was easy to open an account xx years ago .........

I had Bangkok Bank for 2 years (2005 2006) and it was ok when I started, but at the time they didn't allow Internet Banking to Farangs who opened an account with a retirement visa. So that was not convenient. Then I had a problem when my ATM card was stolen while I was travelling in Canada and I didn't notice it till 2 weeks later as I was not using it in Canada. When I did finally notice it, it took 3 days to get it cancelled as they insisted on a police report and a letter signed by me which they wouldn't accept by fax or e-mail and all kinds of other non sense and since I was in Canada it was a nightmare. Anyway , 8,000 cdn $$$ later out of my account and I was now back in Thailand and they did nothing but nothing to help me out to get the actual bank receipts of the transactions which I needed to send to the police in Canada so they could track down the places where the card was used and try try to nail the culprit. They wasted 3 months of my time running to the branch on Tapae Road, back and forth and kept saying to contact Bangkok which I also did....anyway conclusion is ...I lost 8,000 cdn $$ and these guys never did anything at all to help out or admit that their system sucks and that they were partly to blame! They make you fill in 2-3 forms with passport copy and signatures to get a stupid new passbook, but nobody noticed anything unsual about 4-5 transactions a day for the exact same amount of 3,310 Baht each going through everyday for 15 days and to top it, gave me a hard time and wasted 3 more days to cancel the card cause I wasn't in the country ....Pffffff!!! The other stupid thing is, with all banks ATM cards here in Thailand, you DON"T NEED A PIN # TO PURCHASE SOMETHING IN A SHOP !! ONLY TO WITHDRAW FROM ATM!! This is so insane as no banks in Canada allow the ATM to be used without a PIN # whether in a shop or at the atm .... so if you ever lose you ATM card get it cancelled as fast as possible....

I then switched to SCB on Chang Peuak, and on top of being able to have internet banking access I found the staff in general so much more helpful and friendly than Bangkok Bank. I had a few problems there also with a car loan payment issue with the Siam Commercial Financial department and even though the Bank is more or less independant of them , they got involved and solved the problem quite efficiently .... I vouch for Siam ...for sure. I deal with 3 branches, Hang Dong Big C, Nong Hoi "89" shopping centre, and Chang Peuak and no matter which Branch I go to there is always someone there to immediately help you and who can speak English...

As for HSBC>...... Total Nightmare these people all over the world. I had accounts with them in 3 different Countries over the past 20 years and not only are they crazy with their charges , their service is lamentable and has gotten worse and worse over the years....they need a kick in the head for sure....I am just now closing my last account in one country with them and even doing that is proving to be a nightmare with them ....total nightmare....Stay away from HSBC at all costs no matter where you are in the world

Agreed 100%, even when you forgot your passbook, just hand in you ID card, passprot, SCB can do the banking for you.

The SCBeasy is so excellent and you can get it activated as soon as you received your passbook and ATM card, which normally 5 mins to me.

Plus you can apply for a free sms alert for free, for every single movement of over 3000 baht in and out of your account.

the sms services apply to credit card as well. Life is easy with them. Never wanted to use anyother bank.

However, one thing bad on my favorite bank is the interest rate is quite low. If you want to invest in a bond, long tern saving, funds then it is another story.

Try Sripat Clinic, they offer load of specialists. Khun Ked 053946511 (marketing lady)

You should come straight to CNX then, The event start on Saturday 31st to 3rd November.

Most of the event is near by the night barzarr and the temples around the mort.

CAT Cmotech is pretty good.

PM me if interested.

I used to go to Glaimor, it took me 2 days to complete everything on the checkup list then 'read' the report on the 3rd day.

The hospital in town,jachavej, is quite good.

The health care clinic on Hang Dong road provide good services.

Remember it don't matter where you go in Thailand the realm's doctors are ranked # 27 in the world.

There wil be some individual doctors ranked above that and there will be some who would struggle to be in the top 100.

Take your pick, and take your chances.

But you ain't gonna find any Harley Street doctors in either CM or the rest of the realm combined.

In that case then the Doctors i have seen in the UK must be in the 200s.

It must be really bad experiences with the 200th rank dr!

Dentaland, good services excellent results.

Try Health care clinic on Hangdong road, good results.

It is better you learn Thai then you can pick up Isaan. For thai learning book, try the Thai for beginer by Benjawan Poomsan Becker.

Good luck for you.

There are lots of farang and thai out there want to sell their condos to you.

The Price is depend on the location and facilities.

The new one might cost you the earth while the renovated one is more reasonable.

1.Nimmahemin

Lots of expat live in Nimmahemin area by the CMU and all the big hospital, which is very chaos in the morning.

However you can find everything in your diarly life just out side your doorstep in that area.

The cost of condo(2BR) there is about 3-4 MB(renovate) and 4.5-8 MB for new one.

2.Night Bazar Chang klan and Ring river area

The area is quiter. The price od condo is cheaper(away from night bazar)

You can find a large condo fo 2BR cost 2-4MB.

There are lots of people here trying to make money out of you.

If you can contact direct to the owner, you are lucky.

If not, better use reliable agent who tell you exactly what they will charge you for their services.

May i suggest you to rent the place for a few months while you are getting used to CM and look around the for the right condos then you can decide.

Chiangmai is nice and relax for retiree. Lots of expat live in the Moo Ban outside of the city.

Good Luck

I was looking for a good cheese nan and spicy rich indian curry for a while.

Tried the whole earth once, it was absolutely cr*p.

Never try the New Delhi and this new one, hope they have real cheese nan on their menu.

I used to get BKK Post at 1 pm. Recently they deliver at 10-11 am.

There is no way you will get it in early morning since the newspapers arrive with the first flight from BKK.

You can find good english speaking doctor,who can discuss with you about the metioned test,in many hospitals and clinics around town.

The DNA test is very difficult to get it done here unless you report it to the police for paternal proof.

It is quite difficult to get a good one with the mationed price.

How about buying an old condo and renovate? Oh there is a lot of problems concerning to builders though!

You're lucky yours are yellow..most of us have none left !

Grace Clinic here is very good and so are the other 50 clinics..all do the whitening process on case by case basis of course as some are easier to do than others..fees start 3,000 baht >. Some use mouth guards with solution, others painted on and light treated..best to get an appraisal 1st.

Got Samarin (generic ) 140 mg from pharmachoice early this year 90/10 tabs.

I have found a better price last month at the local clinic 75/10 tabs.

It does help clean my husbans liver and it worths the money.

also another choice for you to check it out.

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/Health-Clini....html&st=25

Have alook at kalaethong and Riverside.

there are plenty options for you and reasonable price.

I have no share in those two buildings!!!

Did not mean to break Thaivisa Rules.

Thought it might be helpful for some of us.

we are now worried about taking our daughter to thailand,,we asked doctor today about hep b and malaria vaccine but we were told baby cannot get hep b and malaria vaccines in uk before they are 1 yr old,,,,

we want to hear what risks there are in a 6 mth old baby living in a big city such as pattaya or bangkok,,we are worried about things like washing our baby in the shower incase dirty water gets into her mouth,,about taking her out and people touching her face etc contracting germs or even if she scratches herselfwhile playing...i know we are probably worrying for nothing but we would be gratefull for anyone who can advise us or who has expirienced any problems with there young ones in thailand,,we plan to stay up county in khon kaen als for a while with my wifes family...

thanks in advance

Why do you need to take a six month old baby to Thailand ? Is it just to annoy all the passengers on the 12 hour aeroplane flight? What possible reason could there be for taking a six month old baby to Thailand.?

wot an idiotic reply...this member should be sent on holiday for flaming or banned

How come you wife did not tell you anything?? How did she survive in her childhood in Khon kaen?? This is rediculous! BTW there is no need for Malarial vaccine, as other posters mentioned, Dengue fever is more concerned.Becareful of mosquitoes bite, specially during the day, Hep B vaccine as far as I remember is given to the baby since they were born up to six months. Take some cleansing gel with you whenever you take her out and if anybody wants to touch her kindly ask them to clean their hand.You might have got dirty look back anyway. I see nothing wrong with the water here. You make me think we were really backward here!(apologies for my not so good english)