New house
Thailand Web Zone asked:
There are numerous community sites and varoius portals aimed at or related to Thailand. Many have similar functions and attract a huge number of people, however as a resident of Thailand and someone who has used these community sites / portals in the past I am always disappointed at how rapidly they lose the original focus and all too often fall prey to the lure of advertising money or to abuse by members looking for sex.
Even Facebook, now world famous of course, has so many widgets and gizmos that it has recently released another app called “Great Apps”, which actually filters out all the ‘crap’ that is currently in Facebook and identifies useful applications for businesses!
These sites, there are many examples aimed at or related to Thailand, become either a annoying display of flashing, immensley irritating advertisements, their owners cashing in on the lure of advertising money (just look at sanook.com and panthip.com); or alternatively and perhaps more disappointingly degenerate into notorious sex sites used by the singles of the region to find dates for those lonely mid week nights or as a convenient platform used by legions of cyber sex addicts often from other countries looking for that piece of Asian erotica in the form of a live peep show via a webcam.
I am not preaching that there is anything ‘wrong’ in this – each to their own – I think the owners of these portals however should beware of excessive advertising and segregate this material / these groups accordingly so regular users can find people and information they are looking for, not get hassled by perverts or desparados and share information without fear of reprisals.
Indeed, I went on one such portal yesterday and was messaged within 5 minutes by a ‘girl’ who turned out to be a guy from Pakistan who hassled me for 10 more minutes to get naked on my web cam! Not what I wanted, in the end I killed the window and will not return.
Thailand Web Zone was started to try and create a ‘clean’ platform for people looking to visit Thailand to make friends / contacts / even business partners in the country, provide valuable information on all manner of topics, written by those in the know: residents and locals. It also allows people to create Thailand related social groups and events, blogs, forums and so on, as well as providing the standard functions such as uploading photos and images.
Finally, we have implemented a few extra features not yet included on other Thailand community sites such as video recording, streaming whiteboards, video chat and music. Powerful group category and privacy management allows each group of people and individuals to do what they want when they want without intruding on the privacy of other people. Couple this with a sensible advertisement policy and we hope this will provide a unique and interesting community platform for people with an interest in Thailand.
Thailand Web Zone, with a load of new cool features:
Chat: create your own chat rooms, video chat, skip from one chat room to another, 1 to 1 private video chat
Boards: let your creative talent flow freely, draw pictures online and share them with your friends
Music: upload your favourite tunes, search through music, download music for your own use.
Video: upload your videos, search and play video directly from the site, use for fun or for business communication.
Video recording: record your own webcam messages and upload them to your profile
Classifieds: add your classified ad, sell, buy, submit and find a job in Thailand.
Articles: find useful and relevant information written by those who know what they are talking about. Submit your own articles, share information, share your knowledge.
Forums: participate in various discussions, submit topics for discussion / debate, ask locals and residents questions before you arrive.
Thailand Web Zone can be used by those seeking a little more community site features, fun, romance or even by business people as a free business collaboration tool. Lots of free and paid membership privileges are available.
www.thailandwebzone.com
Phuket Thailand asked:
Buy your double floor Phuket Beach Condo, set right on the beach in Cape Panwa, the Southern part of Phuket.
Visite Website at: Phuket Condos
Located in the beautiful and privileged Cape Panwa, this exclusive Condo is right on the beach. Each unit has 282 square metres living space over two stories with 2-3 bedrooms (all en-suite). For those who need additional beds, there is a possibility to convert the chill-out room into a fourth sleeping accommodation.
Every room has spectacular 180 degrees sea view of the Andaman and its islands, and opens onto a wide patio on the living floor and, onto a gorgeous balcony on the sleeping floor.
With no roads to cross or busses to take, this exclusive Phuket Condo is actually on the beach. There is a individual eternity, 30 m, salt-water lap pool (not sea-water) enclosed by sun-beds and shade for those wishing to take things easy. All rooms have wireless internet access and satellite TV. The Condo has 2-3 double bedrooms, all en-suite. The master bedroom has a peculiarly lush bathroom with a large bath positioned for you to enjoy the sea panoramas. The outstanding stylish kitchen is outfitted with electrical appliances and superiority pans/pots and crockery/cutlery.
Each rooms can be outfitted at your preference; there is an airy and large living room fronting south and a dining area for 6 – 8 persons. In addition there is a chill-out room where you can use the internet, lean back on a couch and relax or, play on the latest X-box technology. Alternatively this room can be converted to a fourth bedroom if preferred.
You are just 15 minutes outside from Phuket Town and 35 minutes off from Patong Beach, so you won’t miss out on the night life nevertheless you can still absorb the local lifestyle.
Fully relax in your quiet surrounds, hearing the sound of waves breaking in front your Phuket Condo and feeling the cooling breezes from the sea. The panorama is simply magnificent; wide-screen sea, island and mountain panoramas can be enjoyed from every room.
Our 30 m salt-water swimming pool rests along the shore where charmed restaurants and beach bar are 2 minutes walk away. And if you picture a game of golf or a day at the health club, there are an abundance of options based near.
Boat owners have the possibility to anchor their boat right in front of the property.
Visite Website at: Phuket Condo Sale
About Phuket
Phuket is the largest island in Thailand. At 540 square kilometres, it’s close to the same size as Singapore. Only an hour by plain from the capital Bangkok or Singapore, and with connections every day to all major Asian airports, Phuket is perfectlly based for a short break or a relaxing holiday.
Business hours are generally from 9 am to 5 pm, weekdays, plus 9 am to 12 am on Saturdays, exclude when hours may vary widely. Banking hours are Monday to Friday 9.30 am to 3.30 pm. Currency exchange booths operate as retail outlets and are usually open 12 hours a day, 7 days a week. Stores and shops also open from 10 or 11 am to 10 pm, daily.
Currency is the Thai Baht. Currently, (1999) roughly 37 baht to US$1 and ranging between 35 to 40 for most of 1998.
Phone and Fax Service. International direct dialing (IDD) is widely available. Press 001 + country code + area code (less any leading zero) + phone number.
There are also several Internet Cafes around the island and particularly in the more developed tourist locations.
Mail and Postal Services The post offices are normally open from 8 am to 4.30 pm. The Thai post service is normally trustworthy. Urgent or important items can be mailed by EMS services. This is faster and safer but more expensive. Private couriers like DHL, UPS or Fedex are also available in Phuket.
Cameras and Film Most popular brands and types of film are widely available in Thailand and in Phuket. Film processing is widely available and one-hour service is common. Throw-away one-time cameras are widely available, too.
Electricity is 220 Volts AC at 50 cycles. Some different plugs and sockets are in use, but two pin flat (US type) or round (European type) are pretty universal.
Phuket villa rent
OrH Thailand asked:
Thailand, the “Land of Smiles”, you have an occasion to combine your treatment with an invigorating and refreshing visit. You can enjoy pleasurable weather, rich traditions, friendly people and history from many ages to create a fascinating and rewarding experience.
Most people seek medical treatments in Thailand for two main reasons:
COST – The cost for medical treatment has a higher price in Western countries than in Asian countries for the same medical treatments. We are using the same technology and procedures, but at a lower cost. If one considers the cost of travel and living overseas, it often breaks even and is sometimes more affordable to have your medical treatment overseas. As an added bonus, you get a free spectacular holiday!
TIME – You can avoid having to wait for treatment when you need and want something urgent done. In most Western countries, the waiting period for your scheduled surgery can be a burden on your peace of mind. Here in Thailand, there is no waiting. You book the time when you fancy for your treatment and that is when it will be. No hassle in waiting and completely worry free! There is no anxious waiting time. You make the booking, you arrive and you get the attention that you ought to have.
HELPING YOU SAVE
Medical agency in Thailand are here to help you save, time, energy and money. Thailand is the best destination for your medical treatment in terms of quality, service and cost-saving procedures. Orchid Heart’s foundation is on helping you choose the best medical facilities for your treatment, at the right prices. We are aware of budget constrictions.
For that reason, seeking medical treatment overseas might be the best plan for you. You can go on a medical holiday!
Treatment and relaxation go hand in hand. You can recuperate better when you have peace of mind.
Thailand is the destination of choice for these reasons. It is affordable and better suited than any other destination in the world.
Thailand is renowned as one of the best countries to come and visit. We have a reputation as being “the land of smiles”.
Things are easy going, “sabai, sabai” and the lifestyle is fun and accommodating. “The journey is the reward.” (Tao saying) Take a journey to Thailand for your medical needs and be rewarded with a holiday.
Popular Procedure in Thailand such as :
Face Lift, Sex Change and Tummy Tuck etc.
Lee Dobbins asked:
If you are starting to wonder about where you could retire to, the chances are that Thailand has not been one of your first choices. However, the people who have retired to Thailand really do love the way of life there and it may well be worth thinking about it once you have done a little research.
What to Expect From Retiring in Thailand
Thailand is well known for its fantastic weather and it is certainly somewhere that you should consider if you want to experience a warm winter. Also, one of the main reasons why people do choose to retire to Thailand is the fact that there is not as much crime there as there is in some Western countries. In fact Thailand is known to be one of the safest countries in the world and attacks on strangers is extremely low and that allows you to feel safer than you would in a country such as the UK or in America.
If you are on a slight budget then there will always be something to suit your needs in Thailand. All you have to do is look away from the tourist driven places and you will find that the prices of accommodation and living is a lot lower than it is in built up areas.
Another good factor about the cost of living in Thailand is the medical care. The treatments and the facilities are extremely modern, yet they are also really inexpensive too. This means that you will easily be able to afford any health care which you may need and it is just as good as it would be back home.
If you are thinking of retiring to Thailand then one thing you will need to think about is what you would like to spend your time doing. There are a number of activities available to you and it basically depends upon how active you want to be. For example you can take part in scuba diving or if you would still like to feel like you are working then you can apply to become a volunteer teacher. You can also just relax and enjoy cultural activities if you would prefer.
Overall retiring in Thailand is definitely something you should consider. The cost of living there is extremely low and it is one of the safest places in the world. With no cold weather to worry even in winter, about what more could you possibly ask for?
Boomeryearbook.com asked:
One enterprising lady who recently decided to retire to Thailand is saving diligently to sponsor a beachside home in her dream location and expressed the desire to spend her final days in the ‘Land of Smiles’ and eventually when she dies to be wrapped in a sail and gently floated out to sea in a candlelit ceremony! Baby boomers, along with everyone else, receive a warm welcome in Thailand and the retired American community has expanded in recent years, prompting the Thai government to consider various affordable financial facilities for Americans wishing to buy their own property.
Thailand is proud of its incredible beaches; lush forests and impressive mountains. The lifestyle in Thailand is to die for, with its warm climate; low cost of living; wide use of English as the country’s second language and plenty of opportunities for laid back entertainment.
Baby boomers who have worked in Thailand know that is a popular holiday destination with the rest of Asia and many Americans who spent part of their career working in Asia choose Thailand for their retirement. The country is quite simply gorgeous, with beautiful gardens, a perfect living environment and an impressive cosmopolitan culture. Baby boomers with the right financial criteria can attain a retirement visa to allow them to settle permanently in Thailand.
Psychological articles recommend that medical facilities in Thailand are of a high standard and there are plenty of high quality clinics and hospitals to choose from all over the country. An international ISO certificate may be applied for to entitle attendance and most medical conditions are catered for.
Local color is impressive: the fabric markets are a must for lady baby boomers with a taste for opulence – Thai silk is not as cheap as it once was but every bit as beautiful and tactile. In Thailand it is possible to find fantastic 3D wall art and expertly carved furniture at a fraction of the cost in the US and many visitors to Thailand take advantage of opportunities to ship large quantities of local furniture back home.
Psychological articles note that for many, the transition from tourist to retiree in Thailand is a gradual one. Most take the time to explore the country in detail before making the all important decision on whether to retire there. It is quite useful that property rental is low, allowing prospective retirees to ‘try before they buy’.
Kelly Peck asked:
If you’re looking for an overseas property for sale, Thailand is a country to seriously consider. There is more to Thailand than a paradise location for backpackers. Many overseas visitors are choosing to retire in Thailand and other visitors are staying for part of the year to enjoy what Thailand has to offer.
Property Investments
Imagine coming home to a luxury villa on a large plot of land, built to blend in with the existing coconut trees, flora, fauna and rock formations, which maximises the feeling of privacy and space. This is just one of the property options Thailand offers.
Another type of property for sale Thailand can offer is golfing property – property in and located around a golf course facility or club. A golfing property can mean open space and pleasing views, gated security, facilities which could include hotels, spa’s, sports facilities, supermarkets, entertainment, restaurants, swimming pools. All of this has huge rental potential, and sometimes this is ‘guaranteed.’
Thailand currently has much to offer investors in terms of off-plan villas, townhouses or apartments. Almost all the off-plan property for sale in Thailand is located in the major investment hot-spots. Property prices remain good value for money and the property market has recovered from the downturn in the late 90’s. The recovery was helped, for example, with low interest rates, strong domestic consumption, and tax measures to stimulate the property markets.
Most property is purchased directly from a developer or via an agent. A solicitor will represent you in the property purchase and complete all the legal requirements of the sale. Solicitors carry out the usual range of checks: that the vendors have the correct title and are able to transfer it to you; search for any charges and liabilities that are attached to the property; advise you on all of your obligations; assist with the transfer of your funds.
Tourism
Thailand’s major Unique Selling Point (USP) is tourism and the government promotes Thailand on a global scale. The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) predicts continued growth for 2008, with an estimated total of 14.8 million tourists, generating Baht 547 billion in the process.
Thailand offers visitors many benefits including beautiful beaches, tasty food, friendly people and excellent health care. Phuket is the main tourist destination which lies at the bottom of mainland Thailand. Thailand is also a divers’ paradise with the marine national park of Koh Similan renowned as a world class diving site.
Due to its popularity as a tourist destination, Thailand is one of the cheapest places to fly to in Asia, with direct flights readily available to Bangkok from many international airports. There is an excellent rail service covering the majority of the country, the trains are comfortable and cheap, and timetables are in English.
Geography
Thailand is predominantly a Buddhist kingdom and is located in Southeast Asia surrounded by Myanmar to the north and west, Laos to the northeast, Cambodia and the Gulf of Thailand to the southeast and Malaysia and Myanmar to the south.
The largest city in Thailand is Bangkok, with about 6 million people. As well as being the largest city and the main seaport, Bangkok is the Capital of Thailand. The climate is sub-tropical with long hours of sunshine and high humidity. The temperature is hot from March to June, rainy from July to October, and cool from November to February.
Conclusion
Thailand has recently seen economic growth and investors now view Thailand as a very promising destination. There are different types of property for sale Thailand has to offer the investor, with price ranges to suit all pockets.
Michael Allen asked:
One aspect of Thai banking that becomes quickly noticeable is there often is no consistency. Different banks have different rules, regulations, and procedures. Sometimes that lack of consistency exists between different branches of the same bank. It is more of an annoyance than a serious problem, but often in one branch you will be told one thing and then something entirely different in another branch.
Thai banks have main branches and mini branches. The mini branches are found mostly in shopping malls. The mini branches are quite convenient because they have longer hours than the main branches and are open every day, with the exception of certain holidays. The mini branches open when their mall location opens and usually remain open until about 9:00pm, depending on their location. Nearly every branch, even in small cities, has someone on staff whose English is acceptable.
If you are to be in Thailand for on a long-term visa, such as a Retirement Visa, holding a Thai bank account is required. Many Thai banks no longer allow foreigners to open an account if they are in Thailand without a non-immigrant visa. There are still some, however, that allow you to open an account even if you entered Thailand on the 30-day privilege you receive upon entry at international airports. If one branch refuses to allow you to open an account, try another branch. Remember about the inconsistency
If you intend to retire in Thailand, but do not yet hold a Thai bank account, it can be quite a problem if you cannot find a bank that will allow you to open an account. However, if you apply for the Retirement Visa while still in your home country, provided that you are otherwise eligible, the visa will be granted without holding a Thai bank account. Once you hold the Retirement Visa you will be able to easily open an account at any bank in Thailand.
All Thai banks permit opening an account with a minimum deposit of 500 baht. Upon opening an account you will be issued a passbook. The ATM card is called Visa Electron. There is a fee for the Visa Electron card. Most banks charge 200 to 300 baht for it. When it expires, the banks charge a fee for renewal, usually 100 baht. Banks that offer interest to a foreigner’s savings account usually offer only a very low interest rate.
Thai ATMs are sophisticated and plentiful. Even the smallest towns will have ATMs. In larger cities they are virtually everywhere. If you make a withdrawal at an ATM at which you hold an account, there is no fee if you are within the province at which you opened the account. If you are in a different province, most banks assess a 25 baht fee when making withdrawals. If you make a withdrawal at an ATM other than your own bank’s machine, a 25 baht fee is assessed no matter where you are in Thailand.
The Visa Electron card also works outside of Thailand. You can make withdrawals at most ATMs anywhere in the world. Most grocery stores, department stores, restaurants, and nearly anywhere in Thailand that normally would accept a credit card will allow you to pay with your Visa Electron card. PayPal now allows you to hold an account if your bank is a Thai bank. When registering for PayPal they ask for a credit card. The accept the Visa Electron card, which means you can have PayPal deposit funds into your Thai bank account. It takes 5 to 7 days for the funds to reach your account via PayPal. PayPal does not yet issue their ATM card for Thai-based accounts.
If you go to an ATM representing your own bank, anywhere in Thailand, you can do much more than simply make withdrawals. You can do balance inquiries, even for other banks. You can pay bills, add time to your mobile phone, pay bills, and transfer funds to any Thai bank, including other banks. For example, if you hold an account with Kasikorn Bank, but wish to transfer money to a Bangkok Bank account, you can do so at any Kasikorn Bank ATM, but many banks restrict the hours in which those types of transactions can be done. The hours available for those types of transactions are usually 6:00am to 8:00 or 9:00pm, depending on the bank.
At branch locations there are usually Cash Deposit Machines available. You can deposit cash into your own account or any other account. The machine checks the cash to verify the cash is genuine, not counterfeit. In most cases the funds are immediately available once the machine accepts the cash. In some cities that service is available 24 hours per day. In other cities that service is available only during restricted hours, even when it is the same bank.
There are usually passbook update machines at branch locations.
Depending on the bank, ATM withdrawals are limited to 20,000 to 25,000 baht per day.
All Thai banks have online banking available. Some banks, however, permit online banking only if you hold a non-immigrant visa. Depending on the bank, establishing online banking ranges from quite simple to quite complicated. Once you have established online banking, you can check your balance and do transactions from anywhere in the world. Short of withdrawing cash, you can use online banking to do every kind of transaction that can be done at ATMs.
Online banking also includes bill paying services. Billers that have contracted with the bank will have their names appear on a dropdown list. You select the company to which the bill will be paid. When filling out the form you will be asked for two reference numbers. Both reference numbers appear on the bill. Banks charge a 10 baht fee for each bill paid via their bill pay services.
Some Thai banks have non-commercial branches in foreign countries. Bangkok Bank, for example, has a branch office in New York. That branch office has a routing number, which means that any funds you can receive by direct deposit can be sent to your Bangkok Bank account via the New York branch. You will normally receive the funds the same day they are deposited.
Several banks now offer mobile phone services. If your mobile phone has Internet capabilities, the banks that offer such services provide secure services and allow you to fully access your account via mobile phone. You can check your balance, pay bills, top off your mobile phone time, and transfer funds to other accounts.
Thai banks do not offer account insurance similar to the USA’s FDIC. It is advisable to be very careful when using an ATM. Make sure no one can see you enter your PIN. Change your PIN code on a regular basis, which can be done at an ATM. Do not let anyone approach you when using an ATM. If you use an ATM at night, try to use one in a well lit location with plenty of people around.
If you are a regular traveler to Thailand or stay in Thailand on a long-term basis, then holding a Thai bank account is convenient and cost effective. Nearly every Thai bank assesses a 150 baht fee for transactions and withdrawals if the ATM card being used is a foreign ATM card.
For all your banking and Thai Visa and immigration needs, go to: http://www.thailandvisa.com
George Dowhan asked:
After I arrived in Chiang Mai and lived here for several months I never even considered driving here and never had any thoughts of buying a motor vehicle. Why? Because the traffic seemed just too busy with vendors with carts, bicycles, motorbikes weaving in and out, drivers of cars and trucks not adhering to the rules of the road and with dogs laying out in the streets reluctant to move. And this is from a person who has driven a car since he was 18 years of age.
My means of transportation when I first arrived was the tuk tuk (or touk touk) which is three wheeled motorcycle with a small bench seat at back covered by a canopy. Either that or a red taxi which is pick up truck with two bench seats placed in back and also a canopy. It was red taxi or tuk tuk at first and then on the back of my girlfriends motorbike. It may look at bit odd but it isn’t uncommon here. A lady weighing 40 kilos driving the honda motorbike powered by a 100 cc engine with a big farang “foreigner” sitting on the back of the motorbike.
But then the time came where we needed to rent a car. We wanted to go to Myanmar and this gave me a chance to get my retirement visa stamped close to the one year period of it’s issue date. As the drive would commence at about 4 a.m. in the morning and be primarily highway driving I agreed to rent a car. The car was remted from North Wheels. As usual in my meticulous ways I checked every rental place I could here in Chiang Mai. Prices were close and North Wheels won it. They had the largest fleet, the best insurance, free pick up, and 24 hr. service in case of trouble. Some of their competitors had marginally lower prices but I think it is because there cars are older.
Well it took a little getting used to. First of all where I am from the steering wheel is on the left side of the car and not the right side and the shifter on my right hand side and not on my left as is common here. Also I have to drive on the left side of the road. But off we went and we made it there and returned in once piece. It was about a 4 1/2 drive there and same coming back. Not that much traffic but what you will find is that for half the trip there is nowhere to pass. You will witness reckless drivers passing on turns and up and down hills where they shouldn’t because they cannot see far enough ahead. The trip is up and some hilly terrain- very hilly.
Will you need to rent a car?
The climate here in Chiang Mai is either warm or hot during the day and warm or cool at night. I arrived on November 23 and during the first 3 months I did not see a drop of rain. It was sunny every day, warm during the day and pleasantly cool in the evenings and at night. If you were sleeping with the window open you would require a blanket.
My girlfriend told me that the time would come where we would get rain every day. Hmmm. She must be exaggerating I thought to myself. Perhaps rain every 2 or 3 days but not “every” day.
Well I was proven wrong. Starting in May we got rain every day. At times a quick shower during what seemed like the same time each day and ocassionaly a continuous rainfall. It was at this time that I realized that we should buy a motor vehicle. The drive on the motorbike at the time to here beauty salon was just too far and with rainfall it took even longer. The other consideration was that when we went shopping for groceries we were buying for 4 of us. Her mother, her daughter, her and me. A fair bit of groceries to carry by a big farang on a motorbike. So I went to look at cars or should I say trucks. Motorbikes outnumber cars here about 3-4 to 1 and trucks outnumber cars here by about 7-8 to 1 reason being is that they are taxed less than cars and therefore more affordable.
First of all I went to Nissan to look at their new trucks. The prices ranged from about 360,000 baht or $9,700 U.S. for a truck with one row of seating for 3 people. For seating front and rear for 5 people the price was approximately 460,000 baht or #12,200 U.S. Excellent prices if you are used to buying vehicles in North America. The price gets even better once you take into consideration that the price for the larger vehicle with seating for 5 ncludes first class insurance for one year, it includes a front bumber, rear bumber, includes the alumiunum castings on the side that you would step on to get in and out of the vehicle and a liner for the turck body and also an attachment where someone inside of the body of the truck could hold on to when they are standing up. All in all lots of extras and a great price.
I almost went ahead with that purchase. Now keep in mind that the most popular vehicles makes here are Toyota, Isuzu, Mitsubishi, then Nissan and then Ford way down the list. We decided to look at used vehicles probably because I thought either I or Wan who had yet to learn to drive and would be driving the vehicle may bang up the truck. At one of the dealerships they did an impeccable job of preparing the vehicles. They were cleaned inside and out and including the engine and engine compartment. The color was good as was the mileage which was only 17,000 km. at a price of 400,000 baht. We added the front and rear bumpers for about 4,000 baht and we were ready to cruise. /p>
The truck is mainly used to drive Mommie to school and for grocery shopping. On ocassion we make a trip to the hot springs or reservoir.
So what have I learned that I can pass on:
1/ If you come here on vacation you will probably not need a rented car unless you plan on seeing the sights out of town. If you come here to live long term you may want to buy a vehicle and probably a pick up because of the price. But chances are you will need it that often and you can get by on a motorbike and renting a car on ocassion. That is the case if you live here alone. Should you meet a lady then things change and you may want to buy a vehicle.
2/ Buy a used pick up as the driving will take getting used to and it may get banged up by you or by your girlfriend who may want to learn to drive it.
3/ Buy a popular make as it is easier getting service. So a Isuzu, Mitsubishi, or Toyota pick up or a Honda car. The driving is alot easier for you and the girlfriend or wife if you have an automatic. Hard to find but keep it in mind.
4/ Stay with a small engine as most of the driving will be city driving and you do not need the horsepower. Keep the money in your pocket as the oil Sheiks have enough of our money.
5/ I decided on getting auto insurance and it cost me about 19,000 baht or about $500 U.S. for a year. After one year the insurance contacted me and said if I wanted to renew the rate would be 30% less as I did not have any claims. What? Are they nuts? Don’t they know that in North America if you do not have any claims and have an impeccable driving record for SIX YEARS that the insurance companies will still increase your rates. So this is your call. If you do not feel that comfortable with the traffic then get the insurance and especially if the girlfriend or wife will also be a driver. After a year you can decide to renew or drop. There is a mandatory insurance here for motor vehicles. If I remember correctly it costs about 1-2,000 baht or $30-$55 U.S. and doesn’t cover much but it is mandatory. And should you decide to sell your vehicle and if you have insurance remaining you will not get a refund from the insurance company but rather the insurance is carried forward to the new owner. So that being the case you can ask more for vehicle.
6/ I have written an article about driving here in Chiang Mai. If you want to rent a car or thinking about buying a vehicle I suggest you read the article over.
7/ The driving here some getting used to. But once you do it is reasonably easy. You have to watch for vehicles running red lights VERY COMMON here. You have to watch for vehicles passing where they shouldn’t and expecting you to move out of your lane- VERY COMMON here. You have to watch for vendor, dogs, motorbikes, and more but I have faith in you. If I can do it anybody can do it.
8/ I am recommending North Wheels Rent A Car. Largest fleet, best insurance, newer vehicles and they know how to treat their customers. Recently I decided to recommend a few of the service providers in Chiang Mai. If you are a visitor you can spend half of your time checking out hotels, car rentals, restaurants, and the like. Best to spend it on having a good time and take my recommendations in good faith. My goal is to see that you have a good time here. Good enough to decide to return here in your retirement.
If you are interested in vacationing in, retiring to Thailand or Chiang Mai then you should visit a website designed to help people by providing interesting and essential information and also deals on accommodations and vacation packages.
Just visit:
http://www.retire-on-550-month.com
Have you ever thought about an elite occupation? If you have, then you may have a lot of different careers in mind. If you love scuba diving, then you may be wondering what kind of career you can get from scuba diving aside from being a scuba diving instructor. Apart from just being able to explore the ocean, you will see that there are careers that entail deep sea diving.
There are a lot of occupations that entail deep sea diving. One such career is that of being a commercial diver. This kind of diving requires a lot of courage and stringent qualifications.
Deep sea divers are implicated in a lot of types of projects. One is salvage work on sunken ships, while others include the cleaning of the hulls of ships. Deep sea divers are also needed on deep sea oil rigs to weld pipes undersea as well as clean steel.
There is a wide range of projects that require commercial divers. However, training is very rigorous as you will need to deal with hazardous materials undersea, such as high explosives and you will be in hazardous situations too. In this regard, commercial divers are different from typical recreational divers, because they are well-trained in all aspects of diving safety to the point that everything they do undersea should be perfect.
So, how does one become a commercial diver? First of all, you must remember that commercial diving is different from recreational diving. Having an open water qualification is just not enough for you to become a qualified commercial diver. You still need to go to train for this type of employment.
In commercial diving school, you will be taught all about dive tables and how to make use of them. You will also be taught about underwater welding and how to handle high explosives underwater. Safety is the most important aspect of commercial diving.
You will also be taught undersea communications and emergency safety procedures in case something goes wrong. In commercial diving, you will also learn about the dangers of working underwater, especially in deep diving, where nitrogen narcosis is quite common. You will also learn about the symptoms of nitrogen sickness or bends and how to become aware of it if a fellow diver is suffering from nitrogen narcosis.
You will also be taught about the different air mixes necessary to diving, such as air, nitrox, and trimix. This is important as you will be breathing it undersea. Breathing the wrong blend when you go deep sea diving can be fatal.
Commercial diving is a promising occupation that is full of adventure. The pay is one of the best in the world and you will also be able to utilize hi-tech scuba diving equipment, such as rebreathers, state-of-the-art undersea scooters, undersea radio communications, as well as hi-tech industrial tools.
Deep sea diving careers, such as commercial diving is a gratifying career. If you have the gumption for it and you want a occupation that is full of adventure, then commercial diving is for you. Just remember that in deep sea diving, safety must always come first. Remember these things and you can be sure that you will be able to have a wonderful and gratifying career as a commercial diver.
Owen Jones, the author of this article, writes on a lot of subjects, but is currently involved with Body Glove wetsuit products. If you would like to know more about Body Glove Wetsuit Sale, please go over to our website for some great offers.
categories: scuba diving,diving,swimming,Thailand,travel,sport,hobbies,advice,self-help,health,recreation,leisure,outdoors,other
