chiangmaibruce

I have read about farang asking for money down in BKK but I don't think I have encountered it before here in Chiang Mai. You know the ones that start with a story about how they've had some mishap, people sending them fund transfer had a problem (blah, blah) and now not even money for food.

Anyway I had to wait for someone for more than an hour in the lobby of the Chiang Mai RAM hospital yesterday and was approached in this manner. The guy was probably late 50's, french accent, slim build, curly hair. I told him a story that was even sadder than his and went back to my book. When I next looked up he had disappeared and didn't show himself again while I was there. Is this guy a regular feature at the RAM?

Hi Folks. And no I don't mean I get drunk fast and fall down. Over the past decade or so I just can't enjoy alcohol as I know that even after a small amount I'll get a headache (not next day ... within hours!). I have tried alternating with water but still get a headache ... have also tried some different types of beers and other drinks. I have only ever been a light social drinker, but it would be nice just to be able to have a few beers every now and then or a couple of glasses of red wine with dinner.

I have been searching online for the answer and have found MANY other people reporting exactly the same thing happening to them ... and all sorts of theories ... but no clear answers. Anyone?

Just a heads-up for the fruit lovers out there ... Rimp ping s/market (and possibly other places?) have marvellous royal project peaches in stock at the moment.
Very juicy & need to be eaten right away. Fabulous - worth buying a bagful. Priced according to size - from 58baht for pack of four upwards

Well you learn something new every day ... today we had lunch with another Thai/foreign expat couple and they told us a story about friends who had Immigration staff turn up in force at 7pm one evening. It was apparently an attempt at a shake-down. The crime? Why haven't you reported your husband as a resident in your home? (This despite using their address on his arrival cards, visa applications, etc). The Thai wife was home alone and told them she did not know, and had no money to pay them .. she would pay at their office in the morning. They left, called her husband who was furious, and then they lawyered-up. No money was ever handed over and the matter went away.

Many of you would be aware of the requirement for hotel and condo management to report foreign guests, right? I thought no way would this apply to private households but then went to the Immigration Bureau web site and read the following:

"House owners, heads of household, landlords or managers of hotels who accommodate foreign nationals on a temporary basis who stay in the kingdom legally, must notify the local immigration authorities within 24 hours from the time of arrival of the foreign national." If there is no immigration office in the province or locality of the respective house or hotel, the notification is made to the local police station. In Bangkok the notification is made to the Immigration Bureau. The notification of residence of foreign nationals is made by the manager of licensed hotels according to the hotel act, owners of guesthouses, mansions, apartments and rented houses using the form TM. 30."

There was a short-lived Thaivisa discussion thread on this topic in October 2009 and "Poorsucker" mentioned the above quote .... but there was no mention of anyone copping grief about not reporting their husband. I was wondering whether any other Thaivisa members had encountered any problems in this regard.

I was reading an article the other day concerning the pros and cons of buying a property in the name of a child in Australia. Refer http://discover.real...s-can-own-homes

It raised an issue that I haven't read about occurring in Thailand. In Australia a contract can't be enforced against a minor. If a child was party to a contract in relation to (say) the purchase of a condo, and subsequently did not pay, then I gather no action could be taken to penalise them. As a result (the article stated) many vendors will not agree to a sale where the buyer is a minor. I guess that would mean that a parent would have to buy the property (pay stamp duty) then transfer to the child (and pay stamp duty again - depending on state laws).

Does anyone have experience of property vendors in Thailand refusing to enter into a contract of sale with a minor? Or (in Thailand) when parents buy property for a child do they sign the contract as guardian (if so, does this require court approval?) and thus they are held liable for non-performance? Most of the issues that occur when people go down this path in Thailand, seem to rise up later - mainly when trying to register the title change at the Land Dept

Could anyone who has been involved in a property puchase for a child please advise ... thanks