Sibbo

Very true, I get the feeling that most of the whingers about Thai immigration queue's are EU nationals who are used to waltzing past IO's with a simple flash of the passport.

Heathrow is a joke at the best of times if you are a non-EU national.

My last foray into the UK took me about 20 minutes from exiting the aircraft to climbing into my car. As for the suggested waiting time at BKK, I can only scoff at the reports posted on Thai Visa earlier this month. From Leaving the aircraft to getting into a taxi with my gf, 17 minutes.

From earlier readings on this website I had anticipated at least a two hour wait for customs etc.

Before people comment, I suggest that you leave the country and then fly back in so you can see for yourself.

Great, but I cannot find your earlier posts and have no idea how you managed this.

Please advise.

Thanks

Many thanks for all the advice. I think I will give it a go. If I have any issues I will probably try and contact one of the repliers for some assistance.

Hi all.

I will shortly be arriving in Thailand to commence work and am considering bringing my X-Box to use as the TV is virtually all Thai.

Can anyone offer me any solid advice as to the feasibility of using an X-Box from the UK in Thailand and what will I need to ensure it will work properly. I have a Gold Live account.

Help will be appreciated.

I have used the same system on offer at Gatwick. if this can reduce the number of people in front of me whilst waiting for customs at BKK. Then I am all for it. When they refer to Thais I think you will find they refer to holders of Thai passports.

I would hazard a guess that the complaining members do not have the new scanning passport and have to queue up with all the other sheep. I do not know if all the UK passprot holders behind me at Gatwick had the bio metric passport, nor did I care. I did not care also about the tutting from my colonial colleagues as I got into the country much quicker.

I have one, and if you want to beat the queues, then I suggest you get one rather than complain about those that do.

easy to blame Facebook or any other new communication devices ... maybe a lack of educational system specialy sex education can help ignorant teenagers.

Facebook is responsible for more instances of bullying in the Western world than the actual physical bullying encountered at school. It has produced relationship breakups and caused more family arguments due to its addictive and available services.

If FB took more responsibility for its users actions and collaberated on a professional basis with agrieved victims, maybe it would not receive such bad press.

Yes I hate FB and will have nothing to do with it until it cleans up its act.

Maybe I should form my own "Anti-Facebook" but will have to give it a different name.

In my opnion any man that does this should have a tatoo across his forehead that reads "I am a child rapest".

Thats "rapist" and yes I agree. At least he will now know what it is like to be abused when he goes to the "Hilton". I hope he suffers like his victims did. My heart goes out to the girls and I hope in time the wounds will heal.

When you get into the pokey mate, you will find out what it is like to be abused. Hope you rot in prison. You make me ashamed to be English.

Instead of opening a new thread just gonna ask here.

Has anyone recently flown with BA to the UK, if so, what were your impressions?

I have looked on airlinequality, but no real input from people who travelled the route BKK - LHR.

Thanks for any info.

I have not flown from BKK to London, but have done the philadelphia - LHR route. Can honestly say that the BA in British Airways should stand for Bloo*y Awful. I have flown numerous airlines and the attitude of the cabin crew on my return jourmey was awful. Will never fly with them again and would advise anyone else to do the same. They are overpriced, underated and lack customer care. Never again. When flying East to BKK, I will ALWAYS use an Arab Airline, Emirates, Oman, Etihad. Customer care is 100% better than BA.

While I fully support the usage of Educational Courseware on tablets, I do not think it is a good idea at Pthaom 1 (even higher grades) to simply pass the tablets to the kids without supervision.What would be better is the way it was done durng the pilot testing done (where I was part of) in another ASEAN country.

In that pilot, the tablets stayed in the school, and handed out in the classroom during the periods dedicated to e-Learning. The kids were using the tablets under the guidance of the teacher, and Internet connection was not even in use. WiFi connection was used to intereact with the Server in the school to upload results (courseware was stored locally to reduce traffic)

It was observed during the oukits that the kdis love this period of learning so much that teachers start to use this periid as a incenttive for the kids to behave bettter and work harder. Bad behabviour led to less time and god led to more time ion the tablets. The results spoke for itself - a 30% increase in the classes with lowest grades (versus a test group w/o the usage of the tablets). Kidx intrbviewed on TV said they love the periods as it was like playing computer games and tehy learnt and remember bettrer and can corrrect themselves till they get it rigght - sort if a leveling meachnism that give the slower kids an equ;l caacne to learn if they are willing to put in the effort.

I think you need one of the Tablets with a spelling programme.

You can only get a Visa based on Marriage when you are married.

Go for the Education visa with the correct paperwork from the school. Also you could get a tourist visa then get the course booked and get a Eduction visa from a neighbouring country.

A bit of a downer here - there are many teachers still looking for jobs, even with MBA's and experience. It might be more difficult than you think, and you might just get some part time work, which is not really gonna pay the bills. But it is your decision at the end of the day.

Thanks Beano

I did wonder about the amount of Teachers looking for work, but I will not be looking for work in BKK. As I am in shipping in the UK, there is every possibility that I will still be operating for my company in the UK from Thailand. I have hundreds of business contacts that import a number of goods from the Far East and I can always source products.

With an Education Visa would I need to do a Visa run every 3 months ?

Can anyone help me with a slight dilemma I have please.

I am coming to Thailand in January 2012 with the aim of completing two goals. One is to attend a TEFL course and the second is to marry my Thai girlfriend. Once I have completed the course my aim will be to obtain work in either a language or private school.

My dilemma is which type of visa to apply for here in the UK. Do I apply for an education visa, complete my course and using my MBA with my TEFL Diploma find a job and then marry?

Or, do I come over on a marriage visa, complete the course, marry and then find a job?

I am aware that I am not legally allowed to use a tourist visa as I will be studying and the last thing I want to do is get involved with the Thai authorities. Any advice or help will be greatly appreciated.

I am currently living in the UK and am 46 years of age.

opps....touched a raw nerve there lad. Having watched TV years, with people bitching about "Thai women"..... i would say 95 in 100 starts with " i met this girl in a bar".

I bet a large majority of falangs have never met as or dated a non-bar "Thai women".

I have, she worked in Real Estate and now works for Khirin Travel. Not all Thai woman are bar girls.

Can someone give me an update on Nonthaburi please, my gf lives on 6 Soi Tansamrit 14, Tiwanon road. She says she is ok, but I think she is being generous as I have current health issues and she does not wish to put me under any more stress. Had to cancel my flight in November due to these issues.

Would really appreciate the feedback.

Parts of Nonthaburi are under water, especially the west side of the Chaophrya. However, a good chunk of Pakkred is still dry. Tiwanond is on the east side of the Chaophrya. Not sure where soi 14 is, but it's possible it's just a minimum of flooding depending on how close to the river she is. I am further east behind Central Plaza Chaengwattana and it is bone dry. However, go a few more kilometers past Klong Prapa and the reports are the road is closed.

Thank you.

Can someone give me an update on Nonthaburi please, my gf lives on 6 Soi Tansamrit 14, Tiwanon road. She says she is ok, but I think she is being generous as I have current health issues and she does not wish to put me under any more stress. Had to cancel my flight in November due to these issues.

Would really appreciate the feedback.

If its any consolation I have had to change my plans. My Fiance is in Nonthaburi and is expecting to be flooded and out of work due to the floods and without food and water. When I arrive in BKK in January I will no doubt be assisting Tanya and her family in picking up the pieces of thier broken homes.

(although cancelling your planned trip does appear a tad hysterical).

-Sibbo-

Why you not coming to stand by, on the side of your fiance? Move her and her family to some dry place and give them some help and relief now. Why you stay away? I am in the moment in Lower Sukhumvit in a hotel and not run away,maybe Iwillbe sorry later.

I can only say, I am with -JayBlake- and his Quote! Sorry to read your change of plans, do you have to stay in your Fiances place yourself?

I asked Tanya on severalo occasions to go south and I would pay for an apt for her and her Mum. All I get from Tanya is " I am ok the water is not here yet". I ask her to leave everyday and everyday I get the same response. I have even asked her to get a visa and I would pay for her flight to the UK, but she still refuses to leave because of her job and the fact she is "okay".

I have to respect her decision even though I feel it is the wrong one. If anyone can give me some information on the floods in Nonthaburi especially soi Tansamrit, Tiwanon Road, I would appreciate it.

Thank you for your comments and if I had a bottomless pit of money then I would not need to work so that I can continue to send over financial help so they can buy much needed provisions which are getting more expensive by the day.

For what it's worth, the UK Foreign & Commonwealth Office's on-line Travel Advice has been updated - as follows:

"This advice has been reviewed and reissued with an amendment to the Travel Summary (update to advice and information on floods). The overall level of the advice has changed. We now advise against all but essential travel to the city of Bangkok and the 26 provinces in Thailand affected by flooding. Our advice against all but essential travel to the city of Bangkok does not include transit through Suvarnabhumi international airport. Flights to destinations elsewhere in Thailand (eg the resorts of Chiang Mai, Pattaya, Phuket, and Koh Samui) continue to operate normally. We continue to advise against all travel to the Preah Vihear and Ta Krabey/Ta Moan temple areas and against all but essential travel to the provinces of Pattani, Yala, Narathiwat and Songkhla".

Which I assume means that, as I am sheduled to arrive next week and was planning to travel into Bangkok in order to continue my overland journey, my travel insurance will not apply (as my trip is not "essential" - define "essential", anyway. The fact that the trip was booked months ago and if I cancel I'll lose my money makes it pretty "essential" from where I'm sitting).

Also, BBC news, in UK, states that "Bangkok residents are fleeing the city - with long queues forming at bus and train stations".

I guess the supply & demand prices will soon be hiked, accordingly (particularly for farangs).

I am not what you would call a happy-bunny at the moment.

If its any consolation I have had to change my plans. EVA air would not allow me to change my airline ticket so I had to cancel and will now wait two months for a refund - thier company policy - my new flight for January has cost me an extra £193 plus the £75 EVA air are charging me for a refund plus the £15 that Agoda charged me to cancel my hotel booking. This loss does not compare to what many Thais are suffering so my friend you will have to grin and bear it as I have. My Fiance is in Nonthaburi and is expecting to be flooded and out of work due to the floods and without food and water. When I arrive in BKK in January I will no doubt be assisting Tanya and her family in picking up the pieces of thier broken homes.

So stop your bitching.

WOW 4 to 6 weeks.....

Since Bangkok is basically at the mouth of the river I do not see how it can handle this for 4-6 weeks,

My flight is in 16 days , I might need to rethink this ,

Or come over and help my friends move everything up 2 meters just for safety !

BK

My flight is scheduled for 15th November, looks like I will be postponing now until January. I just hope the nice man who has rented me an apt will hold my deposit for January or return it.

I wish all people in BKK the very best.

My fiance lives in Nonthaburi, Tiwanon area so if some one can give me an update on that area it would be great. Tanya says she is ok but I would also like to hear it from a fellow Farang.

I am due to arrive in Thailand on 15th November and staying in the Chatcuchak area. Can anyone advise as to what kind of flood risk this area is in please? I have looked on Google maps and it does appear to be near some waterways.

Chatuchak Market had some flooding last week already, as I was told by a stall owner, and they are expecting more! Don't know about the area around, because the market itself is on a lower level than the surrounding area.

Thanks for the advice. I know I will not be there for another six weeks but I am trying to get some genuine information. I will be there for a month and wondering if I should bring some kind of wet suit and a shed load of antibiotics.

Nice big storm coming in off the sea as I type this on the 24th floor. High up enough!

Would that be Tropical Storm Banyan ?

I am due to arrive in Thailand on 15th November and staying in the Chatcuchak area. Can anyone advise as to what kind of flood risk this area is in please? I have looked on Google maps and it does appear to be near some waterways.