Krungbin

If you go to the Krung Thai Bank, they can issue an ATM VISA debit card with your embossed name and a photo at extra cost. Then you can use this card online.

You need a farang friendly KTB don't let stupid and lazy staff fob you off with excuses.

The problem with Thai banks, is they hate opening farang accounts because of all the hassle and they would rather just give you misinformation or fob you off with work visa requirements etc.

Most banks can offer credit cards to farang if you deposit a cash equivalent bond. But it is a big hassle and difficult to do.

Keep trying.

I have just about everything they would ask for as a way of fobbing me off, visa, work permit etc.. So I dont see this bit being a problem. I basically just need to know which bank has a real debit card that works online, so I dont waste my time opening the account.

I might give KTB a try.

A credit card is not an option, the need to deposit the equivalent of your credit amount into an account defeats the whole purpose of having a credit card.

Been with KTB for quite a few years now. And very happy about this move. Opened the account at the (very) small branch at Fortune Tower (left hand side going from the hotel lobby to the shopping mall) and dealing mainly at their main branch of Sukhumvit. Staff dedicated, efficient, and... YES many of them speak do English.

What Airline would be to prefer if price was similar ( its almost now) flying from BKK or HKT to Kuala Lumpur.

Which one would TV members choose if we set the price on 3K THB round trip for both airlines.

Its no research and I do not work here so its only of personal interest.

Thanks

From Bangkok I fly in Asia always with www.airasia.com even if for some flight I have first to go to Kuala Lumpur.

Last promotion I buy 15 ticket start October 09 until end of March 2010. Included are also Indonesia, Philippines ant all tickets together vor less then 15'000 THB. Important is you can plan early to profit of any promotion (they have frequently).

Sometimes I read "you won't have a better feeling of safety with any other airline" or that AirAsia often is delayed. To be delayed not only depend on AirAsia, this is a old story when the tower on arrival accept a flight etc.! I am not shareholder of AirAsia but I want confirm concerning SAFETY AirAsia isn't worst or better as other, I would say even between the "Discount Flyer" they are on the TOP. New good material as Boeing 737-300 and the new Airbus A330. Same for crew, I never seen old pilot retired from other companies as you can find in other low cost Airways in Thailand and around. Be fair, AirAsia is okay but not expect for low cost ticket 1st class service in your privat Leajet.

Not "new Boeing 737-300" - the variant has long been out of production - but new Airbus A320's... Air Asia being the largest , by far, Asia operator of the type.

This stated, you are right about the airline: safety is OK.

The only problem I have with them, is that terrible LCC terminal at KL...

That's the king of information I was just looking for! Many thanks for that very valuable post Patrickq!

Beautiful Georges!

Long time I did not laugh so much reading such comments on April's fools day! :D :D

Thought it might be a good idea to have this thread so that if we have a problem with our cars we can find owners with similar models who might be able to give advice on locating parts or getting repairs done for the right price.

As for me ....... Nissan Sunny B14

Toyota Vigo 4X4 3.0 diesel...

Never a problem, cheap and easy to operate, goes everywhere!

And, on top, the best service ever!

I'll be staying in Thailand for at least another 10 months. I've been here for several months now and sometimes I need to withdraw a huge sum of money. The limit is 10,000 baht daily and I also have to pay $5 for each transaction, whether or not it goes through.

I would like to open a bank account here in Bangkok. Do you know of any good banks that would allow an expat/foreigner to open an account with them? I live along Soi 3 near Fortune Tower.

Also, if anyone is into off-shore banking, let me know. I'd be interested.

Thank you.

I have accounts with HSBC in Hong Kong and I am very happy with this bank. Internet banking works just but fine and I am using my cards all over the world, no problem... This stated, if you wish to open a local account, I can recommend you to go to the Krung Thai Bank branch located on the floor level of Fortune Tower (right hand side coming from the Mercure hotel). I opened one there, my passport, a validaddress and no further question asked. Internet (in and out) and ATM banking works very well...

Hi does anyone know where i can find an automatic plant waterer in Thailand?

Thanks in Advance.

Apothecary.

Yes!

There is a place called "Super Products Co. Ltd." 1785,87,89, Soi Phaholyothin 31, Phaholyothin Road (Corner Phaholyothin/Ratchadaphisek) in Bangkok.

They have everything you need: their own brand equipment (works fine to me!) and they represent Gardena in Thailand. Their staff speaks little or no English, but is indeed very helpful!

They sell everything needed for home and/or agricultural watering...

Their telephone nbr is: 02-5130983-4, 930-3088 or 9396362-5.(from invoice).

Email: [email protected]

URL: www.superproducts.co.th (in Thai)

Hope this info is helpful to you!

Cheers!

At which times can you apply for a visa and which times can I collect the passport from the Chinese embassy in Bangkok? Anyone knows the fee for a regular tourist visa?

The Consulate on Ratchadapisake Road is open from 09:00 until 11:30, Monday to Friday (except holidays).

Be careful, the Chinese are very strict about the documents required...I know, I went to Shanghai 15 days ago...

A confirmed airline ticket to and from wherever you need to go and an proof of hotel reservation are a must.

I see on most maps that route 24 looks a more major road than the 226, and yet the 226 goes through bigger towns - N. Ratchasima, Buriram, Surin and then Sisaket.

I actually want to get to Khun Han, about 60 km south of Sisaket, so the 24 is the natural choice, but I was wondering if the 226 is a faster road.

Anyone have recommendations? Thanks.

Same recommandation as the others...Stick to 24!

I am going - quite often - to Phlapphia Chai via Prakkhn Chai...this road is OK. But at night, just like everywhere else, extra caution is to be exercised...

I have been reading the posts on settlement visas for the UK and noted that many British spouses have saved themselves a lot of money by using another EU passport (often Irish) in the process. Some posters have encouraged others to look into the possibility of gaining another EU passport.

I may be eligible for a French passport through my maternal grandmother who was French. I have looked at the websites but have been unable to find any concrete information. My mother still has my grandmother's birth certificate which I'm sure will be required.

Can anyone tell me or point me in the direction of a website that can tell me if I'm eligible. It may be that my mother has to get a French passport or claim her French nationality in some way first.

Thanks in advance.

Briggsy,

I did some more research... On the url "http://www.lapres.net/immi.html" of DANIEL ARTHUR LAPRES, nationality and immigration French lawyers, if found this:

quote:

"Any legitimate or natural child of a French citizen has French nationality from birth.

But, if only one of a person's parents is French, and the person is born outside of France, his or her French nationality may be repudiated.

Persons born in France of stateless parents are considered French citizens.

Child's nationality is affected by that of his or her parents only for as long as he or she is a minor.

A foreigner does not become French by virtue of having married a French spouse. But this fact does facilitate the obtaining of French nationality.

Children born in France of foreign parents may acquire French nationality upon reaching their majority provided that he or she is at that tie resident in France and that he or she has been resident continuously or discontinuously for a period of 5 years since the age of 11. Such nationality may be obtained by a declaration by the child upon reaching the age of majority. Parents may also claim French nationality for their children born in France from the age of 13. Foreign children adopted by a French citizen before their majority may claim French nationality.

In general, naturalization can only be claimed by foreigners who have resided in France for the 5 years preceding their applications. But this period is reduced to 2 years for foreign students who have successfully completed two years of university studies in a French university or school of higher learning as well to those foreigners who by virtue of his or her capacities or talents has rendered important services to France. Furthermore for some classes of foreigners, there is no requirements of prior residency in France, for example foreigners admitted to the status of refugee, or those whose naturalization presents an exceptional interest for France, or those who belong to the French cultural and linguistic entity and are citizens of territories or States where French is the or one of the official languages, or where his or her mother tongue is French or where the foreigner justifies 5 years of schooling in a French language.

Naturalization may be refused to persons not assimilated in the French community such as by a sufficient knowledge of French, or if he or she is not of good morals, or if he or she has committed crimes infringing upon the fundamental values of the French nation, or has been sentenced to imprisonment for more than months (unless the sentence was suspended)..

Applications for naturalization are made at the local prefecture. Answers must be given within 18 months."

Unquote.

I do believe that you will definitively need the assistance of such lawyer(s) to assist you if you really want to become French!

I have been reading the posts on settlement visas for the UK and noted that many British spouses have saved themselves a lot of money by using another EU passport (often Irish) in the process. Some posters have encouraged others to look into the possibility of gaining another EU passport.

I may be eligible for a French passport through my maternal grandmother who was French. I have looked at the websites but have been unable to find any concrete information. My mother still has my grandmother's birth certificate which I'm sure will be required.

Can anyone tell me or point me in the direction of a website that can tell me if I'm eligible. It may be that my mother has to get a French passport or claim her French nationality in some way first.

Thanks in advance.

Too bad you had your A grade at 'O' level 24 years ago! But if you still have some knowledge of the language, you will find the legal texts here:

" http://www.legislationline.org/legislation...ess=false"

What it says, basically, is that you are French if you are born in France and/or one of your parents is a French national...

So, your mother could be French...if she ever claimed that nationality...and you could become French too...

This stated, I believe that claiming the French nationality is not as easy at it may appear!

Hiya,

I was out last night for the opening of the "Q-Up" bar (above Q-bar). All was going swimmingly until loads of fun-police came in at about 1am with video cameras and torches and closed the place down. The bar was vacated and everyones ID's were checked.

I know this is not exactly a new thing in Bangkok, but I haven't seen it happen for ages. There were also rumours that RCA got closed down at a similar time. (can anyone confirm?)

Maybe the days of all night parties are gone...again...for now.

Cheers.

He guys, it is not only but the Farang bars, pubs and the go-go bars that are concerned... The same friend I refered to a couple of days ago called me again to-day that her karaoke restaurant got closed yesterday at midnight again. She tried to seek an explanation this afternoon and was basically told "that's the way it is...no discussion allowed... period". Nothing kinky in her restaurant, no girls...but she works - and make most of her revenue - at night...

Well, if this "new rule" is maintained, she won't be able to keep paying her cook and her staff of three... Some more poor Thai peaople losing an income because of a shortsight brainless brass enjoying his new power...

Hiya,

I was out last night for the opening of the "Q-Up" bar (above Q-bar). All was going swimmingly until loads of fun-police came in at about 1am with video cameras and torches and closed the place down. The bar was vacated and everyones ID's were checked.

I know this is not exactly a new thing in Bangkok, but I haven't seen it happen for ages. There were also rumours that RCA got closed down at a similar time. (can anyone confirm?)

Maybe the days of all night parties are gone...again...for now.

Cheers.

It looks as if a new "Moral Crusade" a la Prachaa Maleemond is on again. And it doesn't only concern but Farnag bars: a friend of mine has a small Issan Karaoke Restaurant on Prakanong. Two days ago, the police asked her, and the other karaoke's nearby, to close at 1am. Yesterday, they came again and closing time was midnight. But the nearby restaurants "only" could remain open. Yesterday eve, walking back home from Asoke towards Sukhumvit 11, I could notice - and was told by Thai friends as well, that all bars and "venues" were closed by the police around midnight...

A Thai friend of mine recently gave birth to a healthy beautiful baby girl. She has returned home from hospital and not left the house for more than 3 weeks. She says "she will not leave the house for 1 month" as she beleaves if she were to smell a strong smell of food or some other strong smell that she or the baby would be sick later in life. Also she has to keep herself covered ,hat, big jumper etc, so as not to expose any skin. This being for the same reason I am not sure? Where do these beleifs originate from? Do you know of any other superstitions that would appear strange to Farangs?

Obviously this is a Thai tradition and I am in no way knocking it! Just wanted to understand it a bit more.

Nothing to be understood... it is just "tradition and local beliefs"!

Just like that friend of mine who told me she won't eat any duck for two years after she gave birth to her daughter. By fear of becoming terribly sick...

Is there anyone out there who could do me a great service by planning a trip for me ( a bit of a novice on internet) Next march I hope to travel to singapore by train from bangkok. I want to travel 1st class i.e sleepers where nescsary etc. and I would like the timings , where to change etc etc and cost and how to book. this is return trip thanks brian

Dear Brian,

There is the "Eastern & Oriental Express train". I took it a few years ago and, trust me, it is a "once in a lifetime experience"!. But I hope that you won't travel alone!

Not particularly cheap but worth every cents of its price! More especially because their prices are...in US dollars!

You will find all the information you need at : "http://www.orient-express.com/web/eoe/eoe_a2a_home.jsp".

Have a good trip!

Krungbin

During the next three weeks I will be in the general vicinity of the New York, Chicago and Los Angeles agencies. There is so much confusion over this issue that it might be prudent to stop in at each embassy and ask directly plus pick up any literature they might have.

The stamp they showed me was on an official letterhead that was dated around the 16th of April. This stamp took up a full page of the passport and had about ten lines to be filled in. The official word from the consulate was no more multiple entry, all future non imm Bs were to be single entry. On return to Bangkok, new forms required to turn the single entry one year visa into a multiple entry visa. They thought the fee was around 3000 baht. There is a new form, they have not seen it but expect to have a copy of it shortly.

Thats all I know. Sounds like others are having the same problems. I will stop in as many consulates as possible and see if I can get two stories to vaguely line up.

Dear Xbusman,

Many many thanks for both the extra explanations and... the effort!

At the Chicago consulate they showed me a complete documentation package of the process. There is a new form that gets filled out and basically the same documents that are used to apply for the non-imm have to be submitted. If approved, they have a new stamp that takes up a page of your passport with all the details of turning your single entry into a multiple entry.

Hi Xbusman,

Thanks for your comments. Guess you refer to the Immigration's process that entitles you to multiple entries. would you, by any chance, have a copy of the documents/nes form that were shown to you?

Thanks for your assistance

he was granted a single entry, 3months' one.

And was told that, as of October 6th 2006, these were the "new rules"...

Hi Krungbin,

Your friend is not the first one having this kind of problem in France. I mentioned similar cases during February in this old topic : ... is it possible to get it anymore?. It's one of the many rules of the Thai Embassy in Paris... France definitively is no more friendly for everything relative to visas...

Pattaya46... french too

Hi Pattaya 46,

I raised the subject because two other friends have used the same Consulate in the past and never had any problems whatsoever. One year multiple enties visas were regularly delivered for the last 5 years. Obviously, something has changed. Now, if proven correct, I would be very interested in learning more about immigration "modifying" a single entry non immigrant B visa into a multiple entries one...

A friend of mine recently came back from France, his home country, where he submitted a complete and well documented application to one of the Royal Thai Consulates to obtain a one year multiple entries "non-immigrant B" visa.

Quite surprisingly, he was granted a single entry, 3months' one.

And was told that, as of October 6th 2006, these were the "new rules"... "new rules" that are supported by the copy of an official "notice to the public" issued by the Royal Thai Embassy in Paris .

Anybody aware of this change in policy?

Thanks for your comments

Below is a post on the Pattaya Forum that should be helpful:

I would add:

Walk around the building. Look for cracks. Inspect perimeter drains.

Check outside toilets. Do toilets, urinals, taps and lights work? Tiles off the walls?

Swim pool furniture. Is it broken down? Is shade provided? If not, why not?

Gardens: Do plants look cared for? Lawns weeded? Drains clean? Is there garbage lying around?

Garbage disposal: How often is it collected? If there is a chute when was it last cleaned? How clean is the garbage room? Is there a smell of garbage on any floor? How often do they spray for cockroaches, etc.

Interior common areas: How clean are the floor tiles? You can usually find out by moving the flowerpots. Are the indoor plants healthy and dust free?

Security posts: Clean and tidy? Are guards efficient and courteous?

Is there a mosquito elimination program?

Are staff allowed to recycle cans, bottles, newspapers. If so, do they remove every evening? If recyclables are not removed every evening where are they kept? You might be surprised to find in the toilets and fire hose cupboards!

Are roads swept clean and free of weeds? Are kerb drains choked? Are roadside plantings beautiful?

Fire Safety: Are corridors clear of plants and ornaments? Does each floor have a fire hose? When were the fire extinguishers last checked? Do walk the emergency stairwells.

If you find too many negative things it means that manager is not doing his/her job and the management committee is not doing its. And you might want to look elsewhere for a home.

Good luck

QUOTE(sattahip @ 2006-09-03 10:20:23)

I am sorry to be brutally frank but most of the replies above are of no real value.

You can establish the quality of condo management ;

1. Ask to see the most recent audited accounts of the condominium juristic person. That is the association in Thai law which owns the structure. These accounts should be audited, though with accounting standards such as they are in Thailand, this is no absolute guarantee of accuracy. In any building catering well to expatriate owners there will be an English language copy. Use your common sense to review income and outgo, accumulated net worth, presence of reserve funds etc. Ask to see a list detailing maintenance arrears. Be careful if the developer is the major creditor or arrears are substantial/chronic.

2. Ask for a copy of the minutes of the most recent Annual General Meeting. As with the accounts, any well managed building will have these in English translation. Review this to see if key issues like financial viability, management quality, maintenance planning and the like are discussed. See also how election of board is conducted, if it is!. Many condominiums here are autocratically run by the developers as a cash cow with no real ownership input/control.

3. Ask for a copy of the insurance policy covering the building. This will likely be in Thai but check with your lawyer what is covered,who is the beneficiary, for how much and with whom. Often insurance is completely inadequate, covers only fire and is with a company even for major buildings no-one has ever heard of. Strangely such companies often pay brokerage of some substance to the "manager" which should not be done for obvious reasons re independent assessment. Thailand has many reputable brokers in Bangkok who can arrange the right policy with the financially capable insurers plus advise on coverage amount which will increase over time to cover replacement costs. Check there is 3rd party insurance also though this will be rare. Good insurance companies will also offer staff fire training.

4 See a utility bill for a condo and check the unit costs of electricity and water against those an independent householder would pay. These items should not be a "profit centre" for management.

5. Ask for a copy of the association,s land deed which of course should be in its name (e.g. "name of condo" Juristic Association). In many cases the association will own only the footprint of the building and you can have a fun park or shophouses next year on what you thought were your clubhouse grounds or gardens. This is common. One building mentioned above as an exemplar has allocated only 2.5 rai(about an acre) for its new 33 storey twin tower. Now tell me that makes sense!

6. Walk down the fire stairs as you leave. A sign of good management is that these will be completely clear, properly emergency lit etc. Check the maintenance plate in the elevators. Is the manufacturer the maintaining coy? Shoddy lift maintenance is a time bomb. Again commonsense viewing will give you an idea of overall tidiness and housekeeping quality.

All this is a bit long but based on experience. I am the Treasurer of my condominium which is, I believe, capably run by the owners. We employ our own manager and security and cleaning staff and have had most of them with us since opening 12 years ago.

We are about, with a consulting engineers assistance, to commence a full refurbishment programme which will run to millions of baht. We can face this because our owners take a real interest in the building (75%+ attended the last two AGMs) and are willing to fund transparent running and extraordinary expenses.

So any questions or brickbats- I'm ready.

many thanks for these very valuable info!

If one of your main criteria of buying a home is the electric bill, perhaps you should keep renting. Have you ever owned a home? What was your criteria in buying that home - the size of the electric bill? I'd consider the state of the building, location, and the proximity to public transportation.

Dear Backflip

"State of the building, location, and the proximity to public transportation" are obvious criteria. What I meant are the "hidden" criteria: key money...legal, not legal?, maintenance fee...who pays what and when?, legal recourses in case of "hidden" defects etc... Thanks for your assistance!

If one of your main criteria of buying a home is the electric bill, perhaps you should keep renting. Have you ever owned a home? What was your criteria in buying that home - the size of the electric bill? I'd consider the state of the building, location, and the proximity to public transportation.

I am toying with the idea of buying an apartment I intend to occupy.

I roughly know the area of Bangkok I prefer, but what criteria should I very seriously consider when making a choice? (apart from general aspect of the property, maintenance of the building, the potential noise nuisances, and... the electricity bill). Thanks for your advise