Hal65

Time to go back to the US for a few years. So far my moveout checklist includes

- putting everything into storage

- giving notice to the landlord, 

- maybe talking to Bangkok Bank about putting the account into dormant status.

- canceling True internet

- looking into suspending AIS but keeping my number (I'm on prepay so maybe no action is needed?)

Is there anything else you guys do when leaving for a prolonged period? I don't have a vehicle to worry about. I was here on ED visas for years, currently on a tourist one.

I have parked my bicycle under Royal Garden before but rarely. Now I would like to park it there late night.

Anyone know their rules on how long one can park there?

There is an abundance of wooden railings and concrete seating which is what leads me to believe they might have been using their stuff to appear like owners of the bike.

Then again if one were to use bolt cutters to steal it, hanging around probably isn't a good idea. 

I am nervous enough about this incident to look for a U lock now. Not nearly as convenient as a chain but I do leave my bike on beach road for long periods.

Here is the area I parked my bike: https://www.google.com/maps/@12.9284615,100.8759191,3a,75y,297.67h,76.96t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1s1IvOViXKvWyl8FTH6QmfKg!2e0!7i13312!8i6656

As you can see there are many places to hang one's clothes that are public property.

I park my bicycle on beach road in Pattaya near the concrete circle (a place with about 20-30 people hanging around at most hours). I have a little bike chain that I lock it to a pole with.

Yesterday after about 5 hours away from the bike I came back to see some clothes placed on the seat. There was also food surrounding the bike. I took the clothes off and a thai guy in his 30s who looked like he hadn't showered in a few days came up to me and took back his clothes. Another guy came up and moved the food as I was unlocking the bike chain.

I was not happy that my bike was being treated as a campsite, but didn't know what to make of it. If they were just hanging out by it then I guess no real harm was done. My fear is that they might have been using the clothes and food to see if someone in the crowd would react for a possible theft next time when that person was away. Only takes a bolt cutter to liberate the bike from the poll.

Curious what you guys think was going on and if anyone else has encountered this. 

5 hours ago, scubascuba3 said:

15 hours ago, Hal65 said:

 
Just to be clear, are you saying this for the Thai DL? I have a 2 year one and don't need the 5 year DL immediately (no vehicle). But my 2 year one expires in 1 week.
 
I'd be happy to put it off for a few months if it doesn't cause any issues renewing later.

You may know this already but you can't get a 5 year one with a tourist visa

Then I definitely have to wait for my ED. 

Just in case the timing is weird for future renewals I'm curious: can you get a 2 year license on a tourist visa?

On 9/28/2018 at 3:30 PM, johng said:

You can renew a short while before expiry (maybe 90 days ? not sure) and upto a year after expiry.

 

 

Just to be clear, are you saying this for the Thai DL? I have a 2 year one and don't need the 5 year DL immediately (no vehicle). But my 2 year one expires in 1 week.

I'd be happy to put it off for a few months if it doesn't cause any issues renewing later.

How much money does the 5 year DL cost? I have a 2 year one expiring in 1 week.

Also, what is the easiest way obtain a "Certified letter of address from the applicant's embassy, or from the Immigration Bureau"

Immigration is a few km away but my embassy requires a BKK trip. Not sure how to get immigration to issue a certified letter of address.

7 hours ago, richard_smith237 said:

Were you trying to park your bicycle (lock it to the post) on an 'even day' or an 'odd day'?

 

A number of streets in Thailand you can park on one side or the other not both... the 'go to' system has been to park on days with an 'odd date' i.e. 1st, 3rd, 5th February etc... on one side and days with an even date on the other side of the road. 

 

Thus, the issue could be something as simple as this. Or it could be something as simple as some guy decides to be a bit of a jobsworth and because you are a foreigner, without connections etc... this jobsworth thinks he can push you around into not parking up your bicycle on a public footpath.

 

He's either doing a good job and thought you may end up blocking the footpath, or he's being a d!ck.... 

 

 

Interesting, it wasn't that though because there was a car parked right next to me.

The car makes me think they were sucking up to the boss. Another time I locked up near the car of the boss of a grocery store. A friendly security guard asked me to move the bike for that reason (kept calling the dude "big boss"). 

This guy on the other hand, was rude and even yelled at me (I was shocked as I'm fairly mild mannered)

4 hours ago, StreetCowboy said:

You won't get a visa extension on that basis, though. 

Can you fill me in with more details on this? I didn't realize active litigation gets you an auto denial for visa stuff.

PS: Here is the post I locked it up on: https://www.google.com/maps/@12.9273536,100.8745706,3a,75y,156.71h,80.87t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sK77VwrWGu_eCmUeLEMNlCA!2e0!7i13312!8i6656

The bar with the guy who made me move it is on the right.

Anyone know the laws regarding parking a bicycle on a sidewalk? Specifically, are sidewalks public property, or in Thai law do businesses normally get control over the sidewalk too?

My situation:

A Thai guy standing outside a bar that I normally park by suddenly insisted that I move my bicycle today. It was tied to a metal post.

At first I didn't even think my bicycle was even near the bar. But as I looked back, the signpost was adjacent to the very edge of the building. It was not creating any blockage and the guy was asking me to move it just because he could.

Police happen to be near this area so they can easily resolve the issue. It comes down to whether the business has domain over the sidewalk. (Today I took the cautious approach and moved the bicycle though)

Went to a Power Buy and asked the cost of installing a window AC. He did say free but could not answer other questions due to limited English. I will also be looking at Big C and Home Pro and just wanted to ask if free installation is typical for these types of things in Thailand (if so it might sway me away from watching Pattaya Buy/Sell for a good used deal)

Any tips for doing this in a fan room? My main heat generators are a slow cooker, air fryer (small convection oven basically), and a laptop. After that maybe a couple lights and fans.

Some ideas and my thoughts:

1. Run a power strip to the balcony and keep the air fryer and slow cooker outside. Laptop will continue to spew heat but I think this will still help a good amount. Only concern is how to do this without drilling holes in the window frame or balcony door. The window is open air, no mesh. I'm thinking of cracking it open to run the power strip and its cord through, then sealing the opening with some sort of tape.

2. install a mesh door outside of the balcony door and then leave the wooden door open for airflow. I live in a rented apartment and would need permission. Other issue is the noise from Soi Buakao (party street in Pattaya) would flood in. The girls catcalling would keep my blood flowing in a good way, but not those revving engines

3. Install mesh over the windows. I don't like this option because my blackout drapes would block the airflow. I can't move the drapes as they are wrapped over a cheap thai drape hanger that has a bunch of blocking supports.

Curious if anyone else has worked on keeping the heat down, and how you would do it.

I recently found out that Vientiane's early morning session has much longer lines later in the week, compared to Monday/Tuesday.

This makes me curious: If I have a visa stamp valid until June 1, but I go to Vientiane early and hope to receive a new visa that starts on May 29, for example, will this cause any problems? I assume not since the old stamp I think would be invalidated, but I wanted to ask you guys.

11 hours ago, jackdd said:

Then pay them 2000 and tell them you keep 4000 for your extra expenses caused by them. Report back how they reacted

Sounds high risk to do it in a forceful way like that. They do have heavy involvement in the visa process.

Doesn't look like this has come up for anyone else. At this point I'm thinking about just mentioning it casually and not putting up a fight if they object.

42 minutes ago, milwaukeeboy said:

It doesn't matter if they owe it to you. They will not give it to you. TIT.

Hard for them to give back something that they have not yet received! As mentioned I am out about 4,000 baht and my balance to them is 6,000 baht.

In Pattaya, immigration gives ED schools and students 2 options: Attend 4 days per week at regular cost, verified by police visits. Or pay 5,000 baht every 3 months to basically stay in Thailand without any attendance requirements. It has been this way for at least 3 years.

I wrapped up advanced Thai and began Chinese lessons this year. However, Vientiane rejected my visa application. The cause was that the school put me down for advanced thai (again). Their excuse during an emergency call was "they used to allow this but The vientiane Thai consulate got stricter about that just yesterday."

Hard for me to believe, I think the paperwork filler either filled the papers wrong, or they wanted to list more students taking Thai due to teacher credentialing (They have way more Thai class times, and I think only 1 Chinese class). Most likely the paperwork filer just mistakenly put advanced Thai since that seems to fit the facts the best.

The current plan now is for me to come home on a tourist visa. The school will then reapply for a 1 year ED, this time actually Chinese.

This paperwork error has cost me 2 extra days in Vientiane and another 4,000 baht (in missed and rush flight tickets, accommodation and food). I have an unpaid balance of 6,000 baht to the school for the 1 year ED Visa.

Would you guys request that the school eat my costs, or is that considered out of line in a circumstance like this?

Well I'm here. And I knew I left something off the list. The power strip. In my cheap 70,000 kip/night room (detached bath) there is only one outlet. So now I get to strategically charge my computer or phone.

6 hours ago, elgenon said:

I got small American money at the money exchange on Walking Street. Try that. Better than the banks.

thanks for the tip, do you remember the name of the place and/or roughly what gogos it was near?

I am refering to the Vientiane > Udon Thani schedule (on the 1st picture's right side). One sign has the 3pm bus, other does not. Anyone know which one is current?

8 hours ago, Suradit69 said:

A shopping mall branch or sub-branch hardly ranks as their main branch. That office doesn't even open  until 11:00.

Based on what you and others say, maybe this is correct. I will say that when I had to get an auto-debit paper from True signed, only that branch could do it.

PS: I find it hilarious that the business banking / home branch is right at the tip of the most dense red light area in the world

The action did not seem too great years prior. There is that one upstairs bar, but otherwise Vientiane looks rather sleepy. I use the trip for rest and recharge before coming home for the real fun (Not many places where you can say that). 

I see the Thai Embassy in Vientiane has an application field asking for a guarantor in both Laos and Thailand. What do you guys put for that? Can you leave it blank?

Heading from Pattaya. my checklist on my computer got deleted this year so I have to recreate it. So far:

Passport, Money (THB and USD), ED Papers, Photos

Clothes, Laptop, Phone, Both chargers.

Do you guys take anything else? I feel like my list was longer but don't remember.