tomallison

Phitsanuluk is the best way IMO.

#1 is long and boring. Nakhon Sawan is a PITA to get through.

If you want to go straight through, then yes. But if you take the bypass road, then no.

nakhon sawan.png

I second your reply. I have never experienced the slightest delay when using the bypass passing thro N.S.

You can go 15 days before and 7 days after.

Docs required

Tm47 (available at Desk in Immigration)

Copy Passport Face Page

Copy Current Visa / Extension of Stay

Copy Departure Card (stapled in your passport Tm 6)

Proof of Residence, like for example Lease, Electricity Bill, Phone Bill

(Some immigration offices have other requirements)

And some have no requirements, except passport and completed Tm 47 of course. I refer to Mae Sot. I did my 90 day last Wednesday 12 June, the whole office was completely empty of customers, thus instant service. Long may the situation there remain.

If you have razor needs that can't be found here, you can try BladeMail. This UK based supplier carries some hard to get items (in the UK at least) and ships all over the world. Who would have thought you could make a business out of that?

The big problem I had was locating shaving brushes and shaving soap for sale here in Thailand. So I purchased via Executive Shaving of Scotland. They provide a good fast postal service, with a full range of all that you may require.

Ref: Metro bank: I did look at this in the past. You need to give a UK address, with proof that you live there. This would be difficult for me, as I have resided in Thailand for more than 10 years. Good for those to consider who are shortly moving to Thailand and leaving family or good friends at the same address.

Basically I would never use an ATM to withdraw cash from overseas because of the charges and the exchange rates. I transfer the cash from time to time and use only my local ATM card to get cash

My method also. I do a SWIFT transfer from my UK bank every 1 year or more. I thus use BKK bank for all cash requirements. Using foreign cards in any Thai ATM's is definitely a no-no.

I was informed at the Amphur on koh samui that the cost of putting me in a yellow book was 10,000 baht by one of the women. ended up not needing the yellow book anyway, but has anyone else had to pay for a book ?

Officially, I believe therei no charge. I personally paid nothing for my yellow book, issued in North Thailand. Maybe your Amphur are looking to have a party.

bet they would not invite me, despite being a benefactor !

Sorry. In my haste with your reply I missed out 1 word in The last sentence. It should read: 'Maybe your Amphur Office are looking to have a party.'

Anyhow, I am sure that the message is clear.

I was informed at the Amphur on koh samui that the cost of putting me in a yellow book was 10,000 baht by one of the women. ended up not needing the yellow book anyway, but has anyone else had to pay for a book ?

Officially, I believe therei no charge. I personally paid nothing for my yellow book, issued in North Thailand. Maybe your Amphur are looking to have a party.

You can also be influenced by a parent. My father was a heavy smoker, I was impressed by his habit from an early age. I did start smoking from about 12/13 with friends of similar age, coolness was then a factor, but the amount was very limited by what we could afford. Happily I gave up smoking completely at 21 and have never smoked since.

Thanks to all for you input.

When I did the drivers licence (1 year) in March in CM, I had to give that residence certificate as proof of address, as it is on the drivers licence.

Now bought another car, wanted to have it in my name, that's the reason for wanting a new certificate. Tried without, but the man at the vehicle's office said "not possible". I needed a proof of address.

The embassy of my country doesn't issue such paper for people that are not registered with them, which is my case.

So the next step will be to try to get a yellow tambien baan once we get the normal one for our house that is being built.

Cheers, have a nice day

Bad news. You need a Certificate of Residences to get a yellow Ta Bian Ban.

incorrect

If I remember correctly I obtained a letter indicating my home address from the Thai Consulate in Chiang Mai (Chiang Mai being nearer to my home). This is a standard letter they issue. Also I was required to have a Thai translation of this letter. Along with a few other items, I obtained my yellow tabian baan without any problems.

Check SriLankan.

They usually have the best deal for business class. Though it means a stopover at Colombo. I have been intending to use them for some time, but have not yet done so. I can not personally report on the trip. Past topics do cover this.

The seller if Farang has to have the Immigration Paper showing his address in Los...signed book and two papers to sell a car in Thai language from a car dealership...Buyer can do the rest on his own..

Correct. In my case I used copy of my Tabian Baan as address proof.

"Mr.T Taxi" <[email protected]>

"Price is 1,200 Baht all included."

Correction: This is Pattaya-Don Mueang. The other way it's more (100-200 THB, not sure)

I used Mr T from Don Mueang to Pattaya 23 january and the price was 1200 all included.

From Pattaya to Suvarnabhumi 3 february the price was 900 baht all included.

If you want to save some baht (300) you can go with the free shuttlebuses from Don Mueang to Suvarnabhumi.

can anyone give me the number for mr.t please?

thanx rick

Phone: +66 38 720318 Mobile: 081 258 7716 or 081 351 3612 Hope that helps.

My bank has been sending my cards for twelve years. Never a problem.

The same situation with me. I have received card readers also, all by the normal postal services and the standard delivery method. I am located in the rural outbacks, so perhaps some luck involved.

Very Useful. Does a Will and Testament have to be 'Registered' with anyone ?

Yes, with your local Amphur. The Amphur retains the original & provide an official receipt, at least that was my experience with the Banglamung Amphur in Chon Buri

I covered this 'local Amphur' subject, in some detail, in a previous Will topic. In short, my local Amphur were not interested in registering my Will, and I was thus unable to do so with them.

I always used the local Bangkok Bank address and the normal Bangkok Bank SWIFT code and believe that was what was asked. The first digests of the account number are assigned to a specific branch location although suspect either will get to customer.

I have used the exact same method that you use for SWIFT transfers to my Bangkok Bank. Monies in my account here the next working day every time.

AFAIK, Nok Air is offering free WiFi, of course only accessible with a password provided by Nok Air to Nok Air passengers

The password is your booking number on your ticket. Very good of Nok Air to provide this service.

Belltours has now 3 daily Routes from the old Airport in Bangkok to Pattaya

all informations, you can find here

http://www.belltrave...ID=N-1211-00001

At Don Muang Airport, staff will be waiting for you at "Meeting Point" on 1st Floor Gate no. 8

I can not get the Website address that you give.

I would like to get the bus departure times from DM to Pattaya. I would thus appreciate if anyone can give up to date info regarding this.

Thankyou.

Good advice. I used the across the road facilities on many occasions when DM was International, if I had an hour or two to kill.

That should read 1.1 million Thai people as I believe the scheme is not open to foreigners of course there will be quite a few foreigners who will be footing the bill but not collecting the rebate!

Spot on.

Though I live in a rural area in Tak, my house is situated next to the main road with very easy access for postie. I have lived here for 10 years. my saying about post from UK is that 'it can take anything from 4 to 40 days for delivery.' My own belief is that the UK send it out right away. The delay is in my local post office. They seem to continualy have staffing problems, due I suspect to low pay. I remain patient in this respect.

The onlly saving grace is that every mailed item from the UK that I have been expecting has, in due course, reached me.

Many posters are referring to addresses in USa and far east. I have a UK address, I will no longer have an address in the UK. At the moment I get no statements from them because everything is online and paperless. Am I entitled to have an account with the banks with no address? Even if I dont inform them of moving when my bank cards expire over a two year period they will post them to the old address. If I say I dont live in the UK they say to me "You are no longer eligible to have a bank account with them" Yes or no?

You can keep your HSBC UK bank account and cards when you move overseas as long as you give them your address in Thailand to mail statements and cards to, I did this seven years ago and everything still works fine, you can do the same with other big banks but not the building societies.

Maybe Nationwide is the exception. I maintain an account with them at my Thai address. In theory they do not post replacement cards here.

Never taken a taxi where the driver didn't know where to go.

Then you must go from the airport to Patpong and back to the airport. Bangkok taxi drivers are to a man absolutely useless when it comes to local knowledge. Even if it's somewhere you would expect a taxi driver to know like a large company HQ or a leading university, you're delusional if you think a taxi driver is going to know the way there. This isn't surprising when some guy from Isaan can just show up with 700 baht and be a taxi driver for 12 hours. Pay peanuts, get monkeys.

I am in full agreement with your reply. I have even taken one taxi where the driver did not even know where Patpong was! Even when you clearly state your destination to the driver when entering the cab, the driver will nod with vigour, so off you go. In truth you could end up anywhere in BKK. I have had this situation occur on several occasions. Maybe I have just been unlucky.

I want to apply for a re-entry permit in the near future, I currently have 1 year retirement extension.

Do Immigration require only one fully completed TM.8. ?

Thanks for any replies.

How can Tak be central Thailand it Borders Burma to the west

What about all the hill tribes in the north they must be poorer than the average essan farmer

I don't think there is a region called West is there, all I know is my wife is from Sukhothai which is regarded as Central Region and Tak is the turn right whereas Sukhothai is the turn left . I agree however that Tak is bodered with Myanmar, others more geographically knowledgable precise might know.

As for the hill tribe areas: I used to think that all the hill tribe areas were really poor but after visiting a few of them I no longer think that, there's a huge ammount of cross border trade that takes place and Mai Sai is a hive of traders and it seems to me there's a lot of concealed money there, dunno for sure but am certain it's not poverty stricken.

Tak does border with Burma. The area in which the Province is in is just called North Thailand. I stay in the Mae Sot area, which is close to many of the Hill Tribes. I have never witnessed any poverty amongst them. Only my observations.

My experience is that bar girls will go to work in the area closest to where they come from hence Pattaya has mostly girls from Issan. The exception to this rule seems to be where a girl doesn't want to be recognised and her family made aware of what sheis up to, then she will work somewhere more remote from her home. Typically however Thai women will not travel long distances unless they have someone to go with them or they know someone at their destination, otherwise it becomes too dangerous for them.

I think that having someone go with them and/or having friend(s) they know at their destination is a very impottant point.