SAWASDEE

A cordial welcome in "The country of smiling people"!

Thailand, the earlier Siam, is a modern country with countless natural beauty-spots. Millions of tourists let themselves excite every year about the live age-old culture traditions, the world-famous culinary benefits, the modern tourism infrastructure and not least from the cordial friendliness of the Thai people!

The capital-city Bangkok has since September 2006 the most modern airport of Southeast Asia. The giant airport Suvarnabhumi extends over a terminal surface of more than 560'000 m2 and was designed for more than 45 million passengers per year. It is located ~25 km southeast from the centre of Bangkok and commuting service with the SKYTRAIN is scheduled to start 2008.

Many daily regular- and Charterflights takeoff from (almost) all intercontinental airports in Europe. Flighttime is about 10 hours.

Thailand developed to number one tourist destination in Asia and is very attractive goal for long term residents too! People ageing from 50 years and more, which would like to escape from the wet-cold European winter climate and spend time in warmer climate, the "country of the smiling people" is almost ideal. The buddhist faith as well as the cordial friendliness of the Thai people explains the low criminality rate. It is from golf up to Wellness and cultural highlights: All achievements are offerde in highest quality at very favourable prices nearly everywhere.

Supplementary information for "non-immigrant" - VISA applications and about legal aspects for the acquisition of real estate is supplied further down on this page.

Head of a laying Buddha

Geografy

Thailand lies on the indo chinese peninsula between 5° 40' N and 97° 30' E. In the west and northwest it borders on Myanmar (Birma/Burma), in the north and northeast on Laos, in the southeast on Cambodia and in the south on Malaysia. The land surface is 513'115 km²: (GB ~ 229.850km²).
The south-north distance extends over 1'620 km, the west-east distance over ~800 km.

North Thailand is shaped by the extensions of the Himalaja, mountains up to a height of 2'590 m rich and partially still are covered by dense monsoon forests.

The malay peninsula in the south attained its prosperity by tin and india rubber. The holidays islands Phuket and Koh Samui are popular international vacation resorts.

Isan in the northeast, is a poor plateau, in which the largest part of the population nourishes itself of the cultivation of rice.

The western mountain country offers attractions like the River Kwai and the three Pagoda pass.

Central Thailand, watered of the Maenam Chao Phraya river and its source rivers, is the rice chamber of the country.

The eastern coastal plain is known by their seaside resorts Pattaya and Rayong as well as the island Koh Samet.

The western coastal plain with the rapidly growing tourist resorts like Hua hin (summer residence of the king and oldest seaside resort of Thailand), Prachuap Khiri Khan and Cha to.

Thailand do's and dont's:

Politeness: Thai people are very polite and reserved. Never show annoyance and remain always calm in case of diversities of opinion !

Dress code: Thai people apply importance to how people appear in the public. They do not coincide, if rich wealthy people (Europeans are considered as such!) come along in rot clothes. Particularly in the evening, the Thai dress code should be obeyed!

Remarks: Critical comments about the religion and the king house implies lack of understanding. Buddha sculptures, monks and other religious symbols are to be met with entitled respect!

Contacts: Do never touch the head of a Thais, not even of child!; the head is considered as holy and must never be touched. It is considered as extremely unrespectful to stretch the legs/feet against a person or a Buddha sculpture!

Temples: Beach clothing is never tolerated whilst visiting a temple. Woman's and mans legs must be covered and shoes remain always outside before the door! A head coverage is always removed before entering a temple building.

The modern Sky train in the centre of Bangkok.

Good to know

Elektricity:
American flat plugs fit most of the wallplugins. Voltage is 220 V. For areas outside the classic tourist sites you are advised to take appropriate adaptors with you.

Picture taking:
Feel free to take pictures wherevere you want except in the Wat Phra and in the kings palace. Members of the king family are not  to be photopgraphed as well !

Health:
Actually there are no vaccination directions. However, it's advised to consult your physician or your travel agent approx. 3 month before your travel for updates.

Clothing:
Light, active breathing clothes are advised for all seasons. For appropriate dressing -especially in the evening-, you should pack closed shoes.  See also do's and dont's in Thailand above !

Renatl car's and mopeds:
If you want to drive savely you are advised to rent vehicles only from intl. rental companies. They maintain rental stations in almost all tourist destinations and take care for appropriate insurance coverage. Be careful: Thailand traffic is left with righthand-sided cars. If you drive on country-side roads, spend extra care. Very often, the heavier and the bigger the car, the more ruthless the driver acts on the roads. Do not stick to western rules but apply a defensive attitude.

Emergencies:
Tourist Service line: 1155
Police emergency: 191
Firefighters: 199
Tourist police: 169

Opening hours:
Thailand has no official openeing rulings. Most of the stores are open 7 days/week..
Bank tellers are open from 8:30 AM - 3:30 PM.
Warehouse are open normally from 10 AM - 7 PM.

Post office:
Open from  Mo - Fr  8:30 AM - 3:30 PM; Sa and Su from 9 PM - 12 noon.
Postcards and letters via Airmail to Europe take between 4 and 10 days
Postal parcels are limited to max. 20 kg.

Immigration:
For visitors originating from any EC country and who stay max. 29 days in the Thai kingdom do not need a VISA. For those who intend to stay up to 3 months, they must apply for a VISA in their home country with the royal Thai embassy. Such VISA is usually obtained without extensive bureaucracy.

How to pay:
Thail currency is Baht (THB). 
100 THB correspond actually to 2.31€ or 1.42 GB£
1 GB£ =70 THB; 1€ = ca. 47 THB
Use this link for actual rates
→http://www.swissquote.ch/index/index_quote_d.html
Foreign currencies can be imported without limitations. Thai currency import/export is limited to 50'000 THB!
Travellerchecks (€, US$, CHF and GB£) and Creditcards are accepted almost everywhere.

Timezone:
Localtime = GMT + 7 hours (GMT summertime + 6 Stunden)

Custom:
The import of fire weaponary and drugs of any kind is strongly prohibited and get's punished rigorously and uncompromising. It's advisable to declare goods with high values upon arrival at the custom inspection station to avoid potential troubles whilst random custom inspections.
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Thai-Food

Raffinesse auf dem Teller!

Raffinesse on the plate!

One is not only to view and experience Thailand but also to become acquainted with its culinary highlights from the kitchen! The Thai kitchen is famous worldwide. Whether fiery chili sharp or mild, the harmony in the composition and the freshness are among a few secrets of the Thai kitchen. Essentially it's a combination between centuries-old eastern and western influences, which merged harmoniously into somewhat typically Thai one. Different accents are set, depending on who cooks the Thai meal, for whom it is cooked, for which opportunity and where it is cooked.

Originally the Thai kitchen reflected a way of life, which is closely connected with the water. Main parts of the dishes were animals living in the water, aquatic plants and herbs. Originally  large meat junks were unknown in the Thai kitchen. Western influences introduced this preparation method into the Thai kitchen. Due to its buddhist background the Thail cut the meat and mixed it with herbs and spices. The traditional methods of the Thai kitchen were braising, baking or grilling. The methods roasting, pan-frying and frying were introduced by Chinese influences. Since the 17th century,  Portuguese, Dutch, French and Japanese culinary highlights have mixed with the original thai kicthen. Chilies are known only since the 17th century when Portuguese missioners brought them from South-America.

Thais adapted stranger methods to their own behaviours and replaced some ingredients. Pure butter fat, which is used in the Indian kitchen, was replaced e.g. by coconut-oill and coconut-milk replaced animal milk products. Fiery strong spices are moderated and refined by fresh herbs such as lemon grass and galgant (a kind of ginger). Applying fresh herbs and replacing spices is classic for the preparation of typical Thai curries. It is well-known that the Thai Curries are very hot spiced, however, the burning in the mouth is fading away rapidly, whereas Curries from other countries with intensive spices keep the heat feeling in the mouth much longer.

Instead of serving the courts successively, traditionally all dishes of a meal are served at once with which allows different combinations of the courts and different tasting experiences. A complete Thai menu consists of a soup, a curry dish with spices and a dip with appropriate fish- and vegetable-junks. A hot spiced salad can replace the Curry court. The soup, e.g. fiery hot TOM YUM should then be followed by a mild Curry. The harmony of the taste and the composition of the individual courts of the entire meal are most important.

eat with a fork and a spoon. Even meals, which consist only of one dish, for example pork meat with fried rice or steamed rice with roasted duck is prepared in mouth-fair meat junks, so that no knife is needed. The spoon carries the food to the mouth.
Thai eaters use only a fork an a spoon. Even simple food, for example pork meat with steamed rice, is prepared such way, that one never needs a knife to cut the food in to smaller junks. The food is put onto the spoon and then carried to the mouth.

Ideally, the Thai meal is an informal affair that includes two or more persons. Reason being, the more person sit at the same table, the larger number of dish variations are ordered. Normally two persons order three dishes additionally to their own plates with steamed rice, three persons order four courts etc.. The persons select individually from all of the ordered meals what they would like to try and put it on their own plate with the rice. Soups are eaten together with the other courts, not independently of them. Sharp courts become balanced by mild meals.

The ideal Thai meal is a harmonic mixture out of sharply, mildly, sweet sour and must please eyes, nose and the palate. A typical Thai meal  consists of a clear soup, a dish with cooked or roasted meat (perhaps bitter melons filled with pork meat tasted with peppermint), a dish with fryed fish, a hot spiced salad (beef strip on lettuce salad, bulbs, chilies, peppermint and lemon juice) and a selection of dip sauces accompanied with  raw vegetable strips. To finish, a sweet dessert and/or a fresh fruit such as Mangos, Durian, Jackfruit, Papayas, grapes/clusters or melons should terminate a classic Thai meal.

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Information for long stays and about the acquisition of real estate in Thailand

Retirement VISA

If you want to stay long in Thailand, you need to apply for a non-immigrant "VISA" at the royal Thailand embassy in your home country. If you are 50 or older and retired, you might apply for a "Retirement VISA category 'O-A' ". The applicant must prove to dispose about a regular, frequent monthly income of at least 65'000 THB or of a minimal asset value of 800'000 THB. The application must be supplied with a "Curriculum vitae", a testimonial(police record) and proof of being "retired".  Upon arrival in Thailand, the actual length of stay (1 year) will be determined and granted at Immigration check - point. Once having been in the Kingdom up to 90 days, the applicant must report himself/herself to the authorities concerned and every 90 days, also report can be made by post by fill up the form TM.47 which can be obtained from immigration office. Once staying in the Kingdom completed 1 year and wishing to extend of stay, this can also be made by submitting the application at the Immigration Bureau, by showing documents of current income. In case of spouse wishing to extend of stay, marriage certificate is required.  Please consult your embassy for more details.

Royal Thai embassy London  → http://www.thaiembassyuk.org.uk/trmv.htm

Legal issues and costs related to real estate acquisition (New legislation is in process!):

Foreigners are not eligible for land ownership and related registration in Thailand. However, there is a legal workaround: The foreigner must found and register his own company. The company is entitled to buy land and register the ownership on the company name. The plot is still not his personal property but the company owner controls it. The foundation of a company in Thailand costs approximately 20.000 - 40.000 THB depending if a complete and authorized translation of the company regulation paper is required or not. If the company is sold off or liquidated later, the assets could be sold separately. Only minor costs for the rights transfer will be incurring then.

Land property leasing
Currently  leasing periods are limited to 30 years and may be extended twice by another 30 years effecting in a maxi. leasing period of 90 years. This is a very popular solution amongst foreigners with real estate property in Thailand. There are only minor duty fees payable for the licence extensions. A common registration fee for a condominium (apartment) is approx. 10.000 THB payable for the lawyer office.
A foreigner might buy and register a real estate for his woman/friend/partner and register a lifetime use right for the real estate and a mortgage. In case of a later separation of the partnership, the actual owner would have to payback the mortgage incl. interest. This is also fully compliant with the Thai rules and laws.

Acquisition of a CONDOMINIUM (APARTMENT) in Thailand
Foreigners are entitled to buy and register this type of real estate. Every condominium complex has a contingent of 49.9% of apartments sellable to foreigners.
The size and location of the apartment does not matter for this contingent rule.

The foreign real estate buyer must transfer the buying value to a Thai bank before the transfer act is performed at the lawyers office. For this purpose, the buyer must proof his payment with an appropriate bank letter. Buying a condominium is the easiest way to acquire real estate asset in Thailand.

The registration fee at the lawyers office is 5 % of the declared property value. If not agreed otherwise and in advance, the property is paid with Thai currency.

Notary's as known in Europe are unknown in Thailand. The money transfer is preferably performed to a large Thai bank account. For example one could the issue a "Cashier Check" drawable at the date when the registration act at the lawyer's office is scheduled. The whole registration process is uncomplicated and takes ~1 hour. If the seller claimed a deposit, it will remain with the prperty seller.

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Construction of new Thai - houses
Hua Hin

Click the image above  to get more information!