mancub

There is a minibus service from Southern bus station to Don Meuang . Have just used the service last week...50 baht and you get dropped adjacent to the railway station , and then use the walkway across the road into the terminal. It took approx. 50 minutes .

Hi Steve. I've extended several years now based on marriage. Each year the runaround gets worse. More paperwork, more nit-picking and requests for something extra. (Forget what the websites says - officers can and do interpret the rules how they want). Then the 30 stamp, then go back. Each year the officers always ask why I don't do the retirement visa. It's so much simpler. So I've put the money there and will change at the next extension.

There is always a possibility that financial thresholds will be increased. If they are, the current retirement 800k could be grandfathered, which would be a good future benefit too.

Having done 6 extensions the only new document they have ever wanted was last year when they wanted the Kor Ror 2 for the first time.

The Kor Ror 2 is not a new document ....it is officially required.

I think he was taking the opportunity to do some "van-bashing ", rather than "Thai-bashing ".............which, ironically, is just what the drunk Thai driver also achieved !

I really admire him for doing this but seriously I am afraid his time and efforts will be wasted.

They think they know better. They wont listen, They wont change their driving habits. Not in a million years.

Couldn't agree more

Having just attended the Driving centre's 3hr video presentation , which is actually quite graphic in parts , to then watch at least 3 people drive out from the Centre through the No Entry sign ,without wearing their helmets or bothering to indicate etc, just sums it up for me.

I also realised that of those there about to pass their car "test" , most had probably never actually driven on the roads ,in traffic , before. .

The video presentation on how to drive safely , obeying the laws, probably being the first time they became aware of these issues .

6 months to process an application ??? What exactly are they checking on ,and does anyone ever not get approved ?

Meanwhile ,issue a get out of jail free card and business as usual.

I believe this as much a case of the higher powers attempting to check on the issuance of visas as much as check on the individual.

Checking that their own agencies are performing as expected. I had all my previous extensions catalogued when I recently applied for an exit permit (Krabi) . It took nearly an hour , with the explanation that there were minimal staff due to an official meeting in Hat Yai. Those that were working were doing everything meticulously and by the book .

Hopefully it will make for a more streamlined experience with less loopholes to be exploited and less opportunities for mal-practise .

Love to have witnessed the police extracting the name :Mr. Abdulamid Binhamed Bin Mohammed ....either way ,using sign language or verbally ,must have been a hoot !

Even Thai police have the intelligence to check a name in a passport.

Yeah but ...why spoil a good report with speculation !

IT seriously will not affect anyone flying long haul , An extra 100 bt hidden and forgotten in the cost of a 40,000 bt return ticket .

It may well have more impact on the domestic market , an extra 100bt each way between BKK and, say, Udon would cost a family of 4 an extra 800bt and the trip may not be considered "worthwhile " anymore.

Domestic routes/ frequencies and passenger figures have rocketed recently , this may help to apply the brakes .

Expect more Thai's to stay at home ,or take to the roads .

Need to clarify if the 100 bt domestic increase only applies to Bkk .....regional airports usually being cheaper , therefore a 100% increase would not necessarily equate to 100bt.

I learned very early in life not to worry or concern myself with things I have no control over, lends itself to a stress free existence.

That's just as bad as saying 'mai pen rai' to everything. Sounds like a Thai 'apathetic' attitude. And that's one reason why it's still an undeveloped country. Not assertive or proactive at all...except when it comes to grabbing money from 'foreigners'.

I think you missed the 'things I have no control over' bit.

Guess you don't venture onto the roads then ?

Keep looking for Air Asia promotions. I flew to KL on Air Asia for 399 Baht or 798 Baht return.

From where exactly ? Or did you just not pay the airport /psc charges ?

Couldn't see any critters , but the wife has found the lottery numbers ...........only she's not sharing !

Once I almost said to the Mrs " Go on then , here are the keys ....you drive ."

She can't drive , but it wouldn't have stopped her trying.

Hope he doesn't decide to come back with a gun.......also hope they checked he wasn't a member of the BIB ,before dealing out the treatment .

'

Monty Python had the "Ministry of Silly Walks" .....

Thailand has the "Ministry of Stupid Ideas " ..............one was humourous , the other laughable .

You'll know when you meet one , they'll greet any criticism (valid or otherwise) with "in the West...".

Laugh ...under their logic then, anyone entering for less than 3 days will pay less than 500baht , and consequently cannot be considered as a Quality tourist .

The physical assault itself was, in effect, merely a stupid harmless prank ...no damage done and understandably no action sought by the accosted party.

The fact that it was promoted to a large audience via social networking , who fully understand the unspoken disrespectful intent of the action , is the issue here.

That is the why the police have been seen to take it seriously . Had the kid thrown an egg at him or such, it would not have caused ,nor warranted such attention .

Schoolboy prank ,yes , but also a pre-meditated insult .

500bt fine ?, probably equates to his mobile phone bill for the month ,or a weekend playing in the internet café.

I doubt it. Are you and your friends fluent in Thai?

Well, I am , but that would hardly help if the "system" doesn't allow for same-day collection. Yes ,I suppose I should try to phone them ,but was hoping to find some concrete info from someone who has actually experienced the practise.

Thanks for replying ,anyway .

Common sense is a level of intelligence obtained by a sentient being , regardless of which region of the globe he originates.

Not to be confused with logic......

In both cases it's a question of how the individual chooses to apply it .....or ignore it !

Doesn't look like he's wearing his seat belt either.....all the better for doing a runner !

The significance of the shoe/head interface is often over-played . It's an example of the gentle Thainess that TAT likes to promote , yet that I see as almost belonging to past generations.

Greed and materialism have taken over at such a pace that social values have rapidly been eroded .

Someone should re-write the guidebooks.

documentary and notarial services worldwide are being rationalised to provide a more modern and streamlined service.

That's hilarious. I hope no one from Britain criticizes Thai politicians/government spokes-people for spouting nonsense after reading this.

I will criticise this for what it is : a thinly disguised cost cutting measure , accompanied by a bull-shit justification .

I eagerly await for you to do the same regarding those instances you refer to ,regarding Thai politicians/government spokes-people .

Simply ... Can I go in person and buy tickets 30 days in advance yet have those tickets issued for collection on the day of departure ?.

This would be for friends arriving in Bkk and travelling to Chiang Mai .

The reason I ask being, that I would be unable to meet them to give the tickets over to them .

Any advice appreciated .