thaiozy

I've always been impressed with the amount of staff present in Thai stores and shops, it's always easy to find someone for help. In the states stores are chronically understaffed and in popular stores it's next to impossible to find anyone to help you without making a real effort and sometimes not being able to find someone then. On the other hand, if you set foot on a car lot in the states you can't look for more than a few seconds before a pesky salesperson approaches. You can say you just want to look around but they'll still hover nearby. In contrast, I enjoy the way Thai store staff let you alone but are always nearby to help if you ask.

Just my two cents.

Have to agree, & you would of worked out i`m from australia where you don`t get service because you usually can`t find anyone even to check a price.If you do it`s usually a young person wher they pay them FA for knowing FA

I love the thai shops with great service, even taking my list & trolley to get the required items & if they don`t have the product will soon obtain it from another. But on the other hand was looking for mower, seen some & asked if they had more & was told no so come back with picture & seen front desk & they had it all the time. probably not much difference to other countries as it was maybe not her section

Foreign investment in any country is only done for what the investors can get out of it not for some warm fuzzy feeling of helping out an other country. Profit is the only thing that matters and with foreign investment that profit leaves the country.

I lived in a rural part of NZ and watched overseas interests come in and buy up land in large chunks and as a consequence of this many locals lost jobs. If there had been rules in place like no overseas owenership of land then this could not have happened.

Also watched local companies be bought up (ie Watties) to have their operation shut down and move overseas. Other NZ companies have moved out also like Fisher and Paykel recently to Thailand, then there are all the NZ banks that were sold off and now all the profits go overseas (1 left TSB).

Nope the TL way is better.

What are they worried about they`ve been given a free ticket with no working visa to come & take the aussies high paid construction jobs

Goodday all

I`m sure this may have been covered before but this time from australia - so here`s the storie

My only communications is mobile to mobile

I use a JOY card which costs about 7 bht per/m (12c auss) , & have also looked at Skype which charges the same (not sure if can use for mob to mob)

The joy card use to have a 1800 toll free number for within Auss but now has a chargable number

So at the end of the day all this equates to the same cost of ringing thailand direct through my Auss phone company

? Any ideas of a phone card that has a toll free number within Auss or a sight that can explore

Thanks All

Yeah, I was shocked to find out that economy class doesn't have individual tvs. I usually fly in TG's premium economy class, though, and the entertainment is great. For that and other reasons, I definitely think it's worth the upgrade!

Well economy class does have individual monitors.....it just depends which plane your on and how old it is. Are you with me on this?

Sure am, that`s why i am checking between airlines for wife & son to aussie.

As for price & i think everything else i cant`t go past Singapore air

Thai air ways want you to ring them concerning infants under 2 as their is no problem with Sing

gooday all

This subject has been on my mind since i have a young lad

Obviuosly having grown up as an Aussie i am still trying to get my heaad around that thai kids have to start school at a very young age of 3 years.

We all know the world is different, so i was talking to the wife concerning this & explaining that i thought it was to early as the way they do it in auss is to (in some cases) go to Pre - School for a couple of days for a year at the age of 4 years & then enter Kindergarden at the age of 5 years.

The wifes reply was that they start grading them from that age & if we were to start our son in the later years he would have to go back & start with the 3 year olds (not know how true since first child, but not know thai way either

)

So at the end of the day do Thais beleive in sending the kids to school so young will improve their education OR are they better of at home with mum till the scenario above

Gooday all

In the process of doing this myself

Plan to bring wife / son / sister to OZ

My wifes been before as my fiance so i guess i will have to get her name changed in passport a to not to creat any confusion as she has changed her ID card

At this point it doesn`t matter as to whether or not my son has a thai passport (but was hoping to add to mothers) as to minimise the aussie paper chase & add him to her visa

Reasons being at the moment : * Each Aussie visa Costs - $105 AUD

* Need to be aussie by descsent - (will do one for his future)

* Then have to apply for Passport - $300

* Thai passport easy to get - 1500 Bht

I think No:2 takes - 12 wks

Since reading that this can`t be done on a Thai Passport (I`m sure Auss Immigration says ok ) WEB SITE - WWW.IMMI.GOV.AU

The only other thing that pees me is the airlines wanting to sight your credit card at checkin. Makes it very hard for me to book flight for them from Auss unless i go into head office in bangkok to show that i am the holder.

I read a certain amount of this topic & you made your opinions of the 3 yrs u have been here

this sounds to me like a troll due to the fact yu mentioned your 3 yrs is up in the first place so byyyye as yu will not need to know any more

I could only find them in Pattaya..I live in Khorat also.

I was in Home pro yesterday at the MALL they did not have any!

Ah interesting

you beat my reply but thanks, maybe we will have to talk to home pro (i might even try to find site on them) & of the topic a bit _ lets wish Wonder6821 all the best (because we`re ausies)

Hi Thai ozy,

I bought one from Homepro in Patts. They had 3 different sizes. Paid 2990 baht. Got it home adjusted the blades and it works well. My very pregnant lady uses it while I am back in Oz. Even her 16 yo uses it, better than using the shears she used to use.

Cheers

Thanks for that

Guess it is good excersise so i will check out the local home pro & get her one for her birthday soon joking.

No really she wanted a nice garden front lawn (& maybe i to ) but like yu mentioned ? who is going to cut all that lawn at once with hand shears

Maybe so, Kuhn S. There are Thai women here in the NE who have no problem generating their monthly incomes strictly from sticking it to wealthy Thai males; and they have never even met nor any desire to meet a farang.

yes i agree they can hold their own as they have for years like in my case, but if they do come across the opportunity (maybe bacause they held their own for many years & have a very poor family) they would jump at the chance as mentioned in a prior reply since isn`t it a world acknowledgement to improve one`s self.

PS. im sure half these topics are for trolling

goodday all

been a while, but just been browsing, but i need to know if any one knows of a place like home - pro or ect that sells hand pushed mowers ( i`m sure yu know the old type as not have much lawn & better cut) + it`ll keep the wife in trim

thanks all

from Thai ozy(Korat)

Gooday all

Some good info here but i am an aussie citizen.

Not having looked into this matter until now, & only having my superanuation pending in years to come from australia, i was curious as to how i would be able to protect any monies eg; super pay out will be 50 - 50 wife / son that will be in my sons name if my wife is still his guardian due to him being under age.Don`t get me wrong my wife is very good but just want to make sure it will go towards his education mainly & to have some money when older. I worry a little bit if the family finds out from her & they start into various adventures

This also goes for other assets like house even though wife owns (would not like to find out she was enticed by family to morgage house & unable to pay resulting in nothing for my son) & this may go for any other thai asset yet to be purchased.

I will see lawyers in aussie & sebastian in Korat

The book sounds good ? wander if you could send some up to Sebastian for the Issaan folk

All the best for the up coming Songkrun

I hope the soldiers are OK.

I think "somebody" just made a serious mistake.

Not the smartest move "reds".....

And your evidence is what exactly?

have to agree, but i reckon there could be many parties responsible eg: for instance like all the trouble they are having in the south ect ect

Goodday All

Looking to max my time with wife & son when i return home to LOS

I fly into Perth ( oh by the way this would presumably be directed at persons flying frequently to perth auss )

8.30pm (hoping for a Tuesday) & fly out of perth domestic at 4 pm on a Thursday

Have looked at various airlines EG: Thai - only afternoon flight

Tiger - will miss, 1 hr diff

Quantas - Dear & bad times (plus mainly want yu to go to Melb or Syd)

Air asia - ok to BKK but will require overnight stay on return & wait all day

Singapore - Seems the best but long time in sing air terminal

Jet Star - not to bad to Bkk but overnight stay on return

Well this seems to be the major players so iwas was wandering if any of yu have nutted out other journey`s concerning this rout & times

Thanks all much appreciated for replies

Gooday All

Just browsing airlines at the moment but not sure when going but has to be before mid Nov

at the moment Singapore air looks best due to some airlines not going to Syd Auss from BKK on price & times with no messing around at domestic aiports in other countries

I`ve travelled with Tiger / air assia / thai & singapore International

I wont fly air asia again as they dont sell alchohol on the flights (not an alcho but enjoy my time when flying like holiday but coming home to my family in BKK )

Tigers ok & don`t mind singapore domestic terminal but their times aren`t good mainly flying out of perth

Don`t think i`ll fly jet star as they mainly go to melbourne

Am still browsing

I thought they were desperately trying to get out of their commitment to buy the bunch of A-380s some months back...saying they no longer fit with the airline's needs or financial posture... Now they do???

They can buy (lease) new aircraft... Though plans are always just plans, especially regarding Thai Air... Let's see what actually comes to pass in real terms in the coming years...

However, excessively high prices and exceptionally mediocre service aren't going to win them many new customers...no matter how many planes they buy/lease.

I agree that the product is "broken" at present. Example from last year. Paid for business class to BKK, checked in on-line and had seat assigned. Arrived at airport to find that a smaller plane had turned up and that I had been bumped into economy. Too bad but it happens. What made me really mad was to discover that FOUR business class seats were blocked off for crew to rest during the flight - a flight of only four hours! And yes, it took me months of argument to get a refund of the difference.

Now I have that off my chest, TG does badly need new aircraft. Two major reasons. The most important is fuel efficiency - old planes are much more thirsty and I see oil nearer $100 than $50 by year end - and possibly higher if economic recovery does keep going in India and China. The second is to make it cost effective to have a proper entertainment system. Like it or not, airlines like Emirates have raised the bar in this area. There are also efficiencies in having a more rational fleet composition (designed to fit routes/load factors) in terms of servicing, spares and pilots (many pilots are qualified for only certain aircraft - and require to be taken offline for retraining if they are to fly another type).

In all my years of travelling I have never heard of this. I don't for one minute doubt it happened, but it is bordering on being unbelievable...!

Where were you flying from, why were you singled out for a downgrade and what compensation were you offered? There but for the grace of God go I, if that is even a remote possibility I want to be ready for it!!!!

Also when was it?

Back on topic I have to say that it seems to be mostly good news coming out of Thai at the moment, it looks like the penny has finally dropped and they're getting their shop in order, the change at the top seems to be doing some good.

TG 316 on 20/12/08 from Delhi to BKK. I received a cheque for the fare differential on 19/2/09 afer repeated letters and calls. No other compensation. Why me? Unknown, especially as I had checked in online and had a seat assigned. I suspect some money changed hands from a passenger who checked in at the desk. I now tend to fly CX on the same route to avoid TG. TG also need to improve their ground handling (poor check-in staff outside Thailand, poor (compared to EK for example) business lounge product at BKK airport - as an example not even Chateau Plonk in TG while you have good wine and champagne in EK plus food choices galore - including sushi).

Well i can sought of understand that as when i fly from auss i like to book the back seat near the galley (for obvious reasons ), only to find that they have put up reserved signs & am offered another seat

The thing people dont seem to consider is how an Asian person would get treated in our country, if they had the nerve to do the flipper or similar on one of us..they more often than not would be the victim of road rage

Im pretty sure that large numbers of our bogan society would not take this crapola from someone who was just a visitor TO OUR country,.."are lucky to be in OUR country" or more likely to the thinking of "shouldnt even be in OUR country"

The reality is Asians often scamper around like scared church mice in our countries as they KNOW better than to try to crap on someone elses turf. Dont think ive ever seen a lone one silly enough to do the flipper or invite that sort of trouble anyway (ok..gang scene excluded!)

If farangs in LOS used that logic however, instead of living by the same sword as their fallen anscestors, then the dead ones may have lived a little longer.

First of all there are many asian nationals living in auss & i bet you would not get thais doing wrong to the extent of other asians & due to the nature here in auss it is little wander why they scamper around

I would never bring my wife or son to live in auss & naturally i am one

Thais do give the finger especialy when p** off as my mates young wife does & knows exactly what it meant

As mentioned they aren`t brought up to do the finger but must be rubbing of to the youngsters through foriegn connections

HA ! someone elses turf! yu obviously forgot the gov. f***d the turf when they gave a free rain to the kiwis to take our best paying labour jobs, so why dont yu sort out some of those big boys on uor turf

geeweez....

paying 12,000 baht to an agent to help you to get the marriage certificate?

this is something shocking to me....

we are really screwed.... badly....

why does it cost so much....?

there are several farang lawyers on board thaivisa.... can they not do better for us....?

------------------------

hi, we were married at bang rak ampur with no problems, paid 12k to an agent on wireless road. although the same agent tried to stroke me for 50,000 thb to guarantee me the visa..little did he know that i knew the visa ( eea family permit visa ) is allready free and guaranteed if you meet all the right criteria which we did.

YES! have to agree as i was referred to one 15,000 & adding up the costs along the way there must of been a lot of tea money ( i reckon total costs easily 5000)

BUT in going with one we had no problems - just filled in papers at their office , they translated , of to embassy in taxi (all costs came out of the 15,000) , then to Amphur ( as mentioned were interviewed) no witnesses ( GF was pregnant) so maybe 4 hrs or so later DONE with the Amphur selling the wife a nice album for the certificate

Paid for how? Tax evasion is a national sport here.

Well they wont need to worry about that now as the`ve just said there`s a labour shortage about to occur

There are endless numbers of willing workers from neighboring countries. The main problem with that, as far as Thailand is concerned, is that Thai bureaucracy is not at all friendly to foreigners in that regard.

The only foreigners Thailand wants to see are the rarified few who come for a week or two and spend gobs of money.

Thailand should be pleased with that...

They can always send some specialists to European countries who dealt with so called "guest workers" in the late 50's and 60's when they needed the Italians and later Spaniards and Portuguese guest workers. In the 70's and 80's the Turkish and Moroccans came....

They can have "free" lessons how to deal and how not to deal with workers from foreign countries.

LaoPo

I`ve never heard so much sh**e in my life. Sounds a bit like auss gov with thier guest workers.

there`s plenty of people needing work just add a little bit of training (which Auss didn`t - relying on labour hire companies), then they bring these workers in (along with the free tickets the kiwis have) because alot of people went for higher paid jobs in the bush for a few years & when finished you end up with an over supply of labour

As for birth control they had better keep the education up or if their that worried about a shortage of workers then don`t worry

Don't you know that coffee shops and mcdonalds is where old sexpats send their girlfriends after taking them out of the bar? They do need a good backstory with proof that they are not bargirls..

Doesnt make sense that an uneducated village girl can speak a single word of english unless she's worked in a bar, even then.. why would she work a in coffee shop, theres better paying jobs for people with passable english

Ok not know about the maca`s thing BUT! i certainly don`t believe they have to be a bar girl to learn & speak english.

My wife & her friends learnt from pay tv within the factory they worked for many years (& yes have been there a few times invited & uninvited)

& yes i believe there is to much gossip in the vilages, just so much B***sh&t & lies & all trying to out do each other SO i told my wife I don`t need to know as i CAME HERE to get away from that

I reckon they have started working on it, by removing the ground level bizzar in Lupini park & replacing it with the tallest building (should give them plenty of time)

after waiting 18 months, FINALLY got to sleep with the new ( Thai ) wife..

Wait, what...you waited 18 months to 'sleep' with her? Surely that is the frustrating part of your story? (and FYI, i would never-ever marry nor date a woman that insisted on waiting until marriage for that.)

YEP would be very fustrating but if you & others are prepared to do that I really wander if anything would fustrate you`s.

I cannot beleive these sort of stories of waiting (SURELY YOUR NOT SLEEPING IN THE SAME ROOM AS MUM)

It`s a THAI ON THAI thing, not thai & farang

AS MENTIONED MANY TIMES THERE ARE PLENTY OF GOOD WOMEN OUT THERE WHO WOULD WANT A GOOD FOREIGNER TO TAKE HOME & SHOW OFF

& I`m sure they might be more worried about him leaving

Well here`s my story

I got my Usufrut through Issaan Lawyers ( not Sebastian himself because he doesn`t handle that side),

Wasn`t married & on tourist visa

Everything done - Signed stamped & sealed in 2 hrs & in triplicate (1 held by Amphur & the others for us) COST - 15,000 bht (may have changed by now)

But in my case I only have my wife & son

AND yes i was told by all parties that i DO NOT own the land EVEN THOUGH i am on the titles (due to the Usufrut ) inwhich i was advised it is there for 30 years for my protection (still valid after marriage ) in having complete control over the property as to wether or not your wife still owns it ( ie she sells it )

A Usufrut also implies that since you control the land you can improve that peice of land but not degrade it ( ie build house - so house yours not land )

This doesn`t sound right

As previuosly mentioned your been a member for 6 yrs now & should know all about a variety of things

As for the sex thing that is totally untrue for a foriegner, because my wife was waiting (probably thought i may look else where)

She did tell me it is thai tradition as she mentioned one of her friends (2 thais)

Sorry, but I don't exactly understand your last two sentences. What do you mean?

I mean & as mentioned if 2 thais are together & plan to marry they will not have sex as it is thai tradition ( wifes girlfriend with man for many years & no sex untill marriage)

BUT! Since i was a foriegner she said that was different THANK GOD (maybe there worried the farang might walk )