Chaam local

Perhaps she has OCD and just likes to clean the house a lot.

All maids I've had so far were immune to OCD...

Anyway I have now given up on the Philippines, and I'm about to give up on Burma too, as all Burmese maids I've had on the phone are asking for a salary of more than 10,000 baht. I understand it might be the standard rate in Bangkok when working for an expat family, but I'm not on an expat contract and I don't live in Bangkok, so 10,000 is way too much for a live-in position.

That's all for now, gotta go cleaning the bathroom...

Might be pushing it a little... But ok, that's an idea. Or I could tell them I'm already preparing my retirement and I want to be bilingual when I move to the Philippines...

Thanks everyone for your input. I certainly want to do things legally, that's why I consulted my lawyer in the first place. He said I should look for a Burmese maid instead, so that's probably what I will do. I would be more than happy with a Thai, of course, but they just don't stay and we've had our share of bad experiences, so now it's over.

I was about to hire a Filipina maid, but I talked to my lawyer and he said people from the Philippines were not allowed to work as maids in Thailand. They can only be teachers, managers... same job list as for the farangs I guess. So I phoned the person to tell her the bad news but she was very surprised, she said she's been working for an American in Bangkok (Nonthaburi) and she has a proper work permit, like many of her friends. I told her maybe the rules are different in Phetchaburi province where I live. I found different rules from Bangkok in so many occasions that I wouldn't be surprised.

Anyway tomorrow she will fax me her work permit and I'll show it to my lawyer. He's usually well informed, but I would like to hear your advice, as I would love to hire this person. Is it a case of different province/different rules?

Thank you!

OC

Does the car park at Tesco open 24/24?

I couldn't help smiling while reading your terrible adventure. It must feel great to be alive and back home!

My wife gave birth to our daughter in Phetcharat last month, she was in a VIP room and I have to say everything was fine and the staff was very friendly (don't know if they could speak English, as I speak Thai). When my wife got pregnant we were not sure where we should go, as Bangkok was too far for the routine visits. We tried Hua Hin hospital but they directed us to a clinic, can't remember exactly which soi, maybe 45. It seemed OK but we had to wait more than one hour each time, so after two times we just went to Phetcharat. Phet-thon was also an option, but I thought it looked very old and there was a power cut just when we were there, so I didn't insist.

Anyway Phetcharat was OK, except for the parking lot which is indeed a disgrace, especially during the rainy season. Driving there is also tiresome, as there is roadwork going on (there has been roadwork going on in Phetchaburi for as long as I can remember) and you have to negociate your way amongst bulldozers in the mud.

But as it happened, the only bad experience I had in Phetcharat was just yesterday. I was there again for my new born daughter's vaccinations. Upon paying I realized that my daughter's name was in Thai on the invoice, so I asked if they could change it to English to ease things with my insurance abroad. They said no problem, but the price would be higher. I thought they would charge a fee to change the name, so I had them explain to me again and they said that the total price would be higher because they charge foreigners more than Thai people. It got me really angry, especially as my daughter is Thai but all they could say was that it was "hospital policy". So I sort of made a fuss and kept the invoice in Thai, for the principle. Now I will talk to my insurance and if they accept invoices in Thai, next time my wife or myself goes there I will have them changed our registration back to Thai and I will let them know again what I think of the "hospital policy". Yeah, I know, I could just change hospital, but it's not like we have plenty of choice, and as my wife said it's probably the same everywhere anyway.

From Pattaya, take Chonburi-Bangkok motorway (road #7) until you arrive in Bangkok. Pass Suvarnabhumi, then after 4 or 5 km take exit on your left to eastern outer ring road (road #9, aka Kanchanaphisek). Go round Bangkok, pass Chao Phraya river on Kanchanaphisek bridge, then after maybe 10 km exit left on road #35 (Rama II) in the direction of Samut Songkran and Samut Sakhon. Keep on driving on Rama II for maybe 45 minutes, that is until you reach Phetkasem road. Then turn left in the direction of Phetchaburi. Drive for about one hour (pass Phetchaburi and Cha-am) and you are in Hua Hin.

There are always other possibilities, like going through Bangna-Trat highway, then expressway to Dao Kanong and expressway to Rama II. But I think the above is easier.

Plenty of choice in Cha-am, 2 hours by minivan from Victory Monument. You could check Alila (top range), or Thai Bamboo Resort, more affordable (see thai-bamboo.eu), which is a resort with private bungalows in the countryside.

You could go back to Bangkok by minivan (around 200 baht). Minivans arrive at Victory Monument, then you can go to Ekamai by BTS, and then Pattaya by bus.

There is such a thing as a train timetable. What time approximately do you want to leave/arrive?

Buses from HH to BKK go either to sai tai mai (new southern station) or Mo Chit.

The long week-end will also be the ASEAN summit week-end, so going to Hua Hin is probably not a good idea (even more traffic jam than usually, roads closed, military checkpoints...).

And they say nothing ever happens in Cha-am...

Or walk 1.3 km to the beach, then another 300 m to your right.

Dogs are not allowed in my car, but I may know someone who would be interested. I sent you a PM.

From what I know, local residents will be issued stickers to put on their vehicles in order to ease the passing of checkpoints. So other vehicles may get more attention, but they are not likely to turn all the traffic back to Bangkok. I'm pretty sure your family will be allowed to access their own house, especially if they take the house registration (tabien ban) with them as a proof.

I am very surprise that these folks still don't get the massage.

A good massage would help everyone relax, indeed.

Their time is OVER. GIVE IT UP

That's what the Red shirts keep telling the Yellow shirts, and that's what the Yellow shirts keep telling the Red shirts. It's not even clear who you are talking about...

Beentheredonethat according to what you say J&K looks closer to Hua Hin than Cha-am.

Plenty of guesthouses in Cha-am town, not sure you can have AC and TV for less than 400 baht though. I'd recommend Golden Guesthouse in the soi where most of the bars are (aka soi "bus station", probably the soi you're referring to). Prices around 600/700 baht, very close to the beach and many restaurants nearby.

It's illegal to operate a company with a personal bank account, so you should really get a company account to avoid trouble in case you get controlled. Your customers abroad will also probably feel safer if they transfer money to a company account rather than a personal account.

Opening an account at SCB was a lot of hassle for me too, and I still haven't got around to using their online system. Good luck!

My friends and family always ask what I would like them to bring with us when they come to visit me in Thailand. They imagine I'm starving for western food or wine or books... They are puzzled when I tell them what I really need! Yes, picture hooks were part of my last "order"...

I know a shop in Cha-am where you can have this done. When coming from Hua Hin, pass the traffic lights (main Cha-am intersection) then stop just below the footbridge, before the road veers to the left (just before the school). You will see a repair shop, usually it is packed with fridges, TV, speakers... you name it.

According to Google, Ban Thalao School (red house closer to your hotel) is at 12°50'47.91"N and 99°48'16.49"E.

The temple mentioned below (Wat Phra Phuthabat Khao Luk Chang) is at 12°48'48.20"N and 99°48'10.71"E.

I hope it helps!