khunPer

5 baht on the lowest wage is a raise of 1.62 percent. The annual inflation rate is under 1 percent, so the question is, when the minimum wage was raised last time, to compare if it's over, or under, the inflation rate?

Didn't we read in the news long time ago that Unsworth was asking $75,000 in compensation? I surprised to read $190 million, it's way out of proportion and unfortunately smells of gaining money – the US law firm probably get half – which seems to move the case away from the original defamation claim.

The question was "...beaches, totally covered with dirt all year round" so recently update is not important... The comment with Street View specific for the pier was that it seems like someone is cleaning also there.

Do you know that you can "walk" many of the Samui-beaches with Google Street View and check if the are dirty "all year round"...? I do not know the condition of the beaches back from 1995, but shortly after the millennium I've been a regular visitor, and long-term expat. I have not observed the same as you, apart from some few places where rivers runs out – for example the river by Bang Rak pier by the fish-market, and that spot is awful – and on top of the long "Samui Boat Lagoon" piers by Deva Resort (next to Big Buddha), probably blown up the during monsoon, and it's a place hardly anyone walk (but me one day in 2016 snapping a the photo below). Most ocean pollution are said to originate from rivers. a scientific study claims 90 percent, and there might be some truth in that. Edit: PS: It seems like someone has cleaned out there – and burnt the garbage – as the impression in Google Street View is (much) better...

So far it's only for the so-called "retirement visa" non-immigrant "O-A" and "X" (X = 10-year visa) that a health insurance is mandatory for, and if you have an insurance from your home country, there is a pdf-form to download from the "long-stay" homepage that the insurance company can sign, and thereby state that the person is covered within the Thai demands, as proof of insurance. Government hospitals on Phuket – or is it only one, and the same director... – has for a couple of years complained about unpaid bills from foreigners. With the new government hospital prices, where tourists pays more, and retired expats even more, that should in principle cover the unpaid bills... The original news article from November 29th is here... According to the facts given in the article I calculated in my reply post that half of 9,000 is 4,500 – mainly Russian, Chinese and French – not paying their bill, out of 14 million visitors to Phuket, i.e. 0.065 percent. It has always been my impression that the 800k baht deposit, and especially after the latest adjustment with not less than 400k baht in balance, generally should cover expenses that a retired long-term visitor might have. Those staying based on Work Permit can be included in the Social Security's health coverage, which at retirement can be extended to continued cover for a very modest voluntary SS-fee. A deposit method of 400k baht – like it's demanded for non-immigrant "O" based marriage/family – could be a solution instead of health insurance, for those that cannot be covered due to for example age, or other reasons, or don't have a health insurance for various reasons; including age compared to a way too high insurance cost that can be around 25 percent of the maximum insured amount. Could be 450k baht to include outpatient, or something around that level to equal the insurance coverage. And by the way, reading the small text in the mandatory long-stay insurance it has various limitations, so it not just a plain 400k baht coverage. A mandatory tourist insurance for short term visitors might be a good idea, it's both (very) affordable and covers repatriation and lots of other issues – that would also safe a number of go-fund-me pages and especially worrying families.

Inflation rate is correct, you can check it yourself here. Minimum salary was in 2018 from 308 baht to 330 baht a day, variating in different provinces (source Bloomberg).

Thanks for your reply. That sounds like an international health insurance, rather than a domestic, for example Thai health insurance. In some countries, like my original Scandinavian home country, there is a free government health plan instead of private insurance. When signing out from permanent residency one is not covered anymore. So if I travel "home" I need an insurance. If I wish to be repatriated to my original home-country I'm not covered before I "sign in" as resident, i.e. have a permanent home and am a full tax-payer. I therefore need a travel insurance to visit my former home country, and will be repatriated to Thailand.

My next door neighbor, a British couple, build with loan and mortgage. The farang-management construction firm had an offer from an Australian mortgage company, I think they covered up to 50 percent of the actual costs. I however never asked about any details, in our farang-way-of-thinking it would be impolite. You might check if any construction companies have any service of that kind.

As resident in Thailand, and repatriation to your former home country?

Thanks. You might be right, but I've heard the opposite, and have been warned against it. However when you buy a house, or have it transferred to your name from a constructor or project, you can – as I mentioned in my above post – have the building(s) ownership registered separated from the land. I would recommend to consult an experienced law firm before having anything issued to a third party, including Thai girlfriend or wife. The architect, or building constructor, can easily have the building permission issued in the coming house owner's name by power of attorney. One can also easily obtain electric supply for the construction period – there are special terms and rates for that – a Blue House Book, which is for the house, can normally be issued when a construction is 80 percent finished. Having a Blue House Book, one can obtain permanent electric supply.

That's the difference between tourist – and a travel insurance with repatriation – and being resident expat here with a health insurance. When expat, this is your home; and if you travel to your former home country you might need a travel insurance, with repatriation to your home in Thailand. I do – need a travel insurance – as I'm not covered anymore in my former home country by the government health plan, not being a resident there anymore.

From what I know (I'm owner of a house in Thailand): Be careful with agreements between husband and wife, it's often mentioned in posts in this forum, that in case of divorce, any agreement between husband and wife can be void. Your need professional advice from en experienced law firm dealing with foreign property "ownership". A lease agreement in Thailand is 30 years, not more, and there is no option for an additional period to be included in a lease agreement; some has mentioned that the leased agreement can be void in that case, whilst others state that no matter what longer period is mentioned, the lease period will be reduced to 30 years from the given starting date. There is no such option as 99-years. Any lease agreement lasting more than 3 years shall be registered at a land office, otherwise it's void. When registering the lease a small tax is going to be paid for the whole lease term, i.e. a tax of up to all 30-years annual leasing fees. I think the tax still is around 1 percent. I don't think it's possible to make a lease agreement without any fees, perhaps some other posters have experience about that. A foreigner can own a house, but not the land under the house – excluded however is if you are staying on an investor visa, and have invested something like 40 million bath – in that case any buildings need to be registered separated from the land, if taking over an existing house. If you build a new house and wish to be owner, you need the following (I talk from experience): Permission from the land owner, preferably a so-called superficies agreement. Architect drawings shall be issued in the name of the coming house owner (you). Building permission shall be applied for in the name of the house owner (NOT the land owner). Keep the building permission, and the enclosed copy of stamped architect drawings, all in the name of the house owner, it's proof of house ownership. Any building constructor(s) contract(s) shall be issued in the name of the house owner. All (major) bills for construction and materials shall be in the name of the house owner. All money transfers shall originate from the house owner, or receipts for cash payments shall be issued in the name of the house owner. You will not be able to register a new build house in the Land Office, above documents are your proof of ownership so keep them safe; however when re-selling the house it can be registered separated from the land. When a Blue House Book is issued you can have your name stated as "Master of House" – even you are a foreigner – so only you as house-master can decide who can be included in the Blue House Book; it's however no proof of ownership for the property. Foreigners living in the house will be listed in a Yellow House Book for aliens, that is where your name might be listed – the process vary from (very) easy to complicated, the latter where I live – except if you have permanent residency, then it should be the Blue House Book, according to earlier post in Thaivisa forum. My lawyer mentioned that for protection, if a foreigner pays for land, you can make a loan agreement, and have it declared by servitude on the land title deed in a land office, just like a mortgage is declared as servitude. The land cannot be sold or transferred without the loan, and eventually interest, has been fully paid. Usufruct are often mentioned, but again be aware of rules for husband-wife agreements. Some land offices will not register a usufruct in the name of a foreigner. To protect both parties a Thai last will for each would be recommendable, as if there is no will, then Thai Law will be valid for order of inheritance. Wish you good luck...

–Which covers next to nothing for hospitalization, but pays in lump sum – relative small – in case of death or permanent disability. Still it's good to have a Personal Accident insurance, especially if you have no other insurance, but the payout is extremely limited, in my case with K-bank it is: 750,000 baht for loss of life or total permanent disability from general accident 20,000 baht medical expenses per accident (can be up to 50,00 baht for a Thai national) 750 baht in compensation a day when hospitalized, not exceeding 365 days For a serious accident like here, even at a government hospital the insurance is worth next to nothing, but still a little bit better than nothing. Bangkok Bank has an insurance for nearly 2,500 baht a year with 30k baht hospitalization,, but less in loss of life and disability, i.e. 600k baht; remember it's normally half when driving a motorbike. When travelling as tourist you really need a travel insurance with repatriation, and they are actually very affordable, and furthermore comes with very high limits compares to a health insurance. But they are only valid for travel, and with a limited period of time per travel. In my Scandinavian home country you can have one for less than $200 a year, but limited to 30 or 60 days for each travel. Master Card Gold has in some cases a "build in" similar travel insurance included in the Master Card fee, might even be free (it is in my case). The "illness and accident" insurance is "unlimited" (except some limitations for pre-existing medical conditions), and "evacuation", including companions, is covered with "reasonable and necessary expenses". Repatriation is the key when travelling– you will be brought home – and the limit of cost is very high, if any. This is also the case here where some $75,000 is needed for that. It's really not worth saving a few hundred $ for a travel insurance. I agree with @4MyEgo in post #2. Hope the family find a solution to bring the injured father home.

Probably your first time during the monsoon season. Debris from sea comes in all the time during the rainy season, typically lasting from November till early January. After downpour, where river water runs into the sea, you can clean all day, and still new debris comes in – it's a Sisyphus work. I talk from experience, I've been living beachfront on Samui for 10 years. Some of the beachfront landowners clean their front, when there's a long break in rain and waves, or after the monsoon season. Volunteers from the villages by the beaches helps cleaning the beaches every year before the tourists arrives (photo from 2018). In older time many resorts closed from November 1st till just before Xmas, and not reopening because of weather, but because of people from abroad wish to spend their year end festival on the island. Beach cleaning in 2011, the monsoon that year was extremely bad with debris...

Slow boat, 55 minutes according to the time table... Koh Phangan Ferry - Haad Rin Queen Time Table