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threelegcowboy
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Posts posted by threelegcowboy
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The RED STAMP is here now!
I posted several days ago about a red stamp issued to a friend and now I hear of another. This is a preview of what is about to happen. They are not going to strand anybody at the airport or the boarder with too many 30 day stamps.
My prediction on available knowledge is:
Oct 1 immigration at all entrys will look into incomming passports and make a quick decision about how many stamps the holder has. When they are over the limit they will be given a RED STAMP put in a profound spot (like the first page). This RED STAMP says " Upon exiting Thailand you MAY NOT be permitted to reenter"
So this person would have a month and maybe an extension to go pack his bags or try to get another type of Visa.
HOPE THIS HELPS THOSE IN NEED.
LLL
So you are saying that red stamps are being issued now? We are preactive rather than retroactive?
They have been using this red stamp for months.
My friend who has back to back 2+1 tourist visa for years was given a red stamp besides his 2+1 Visa issued. His final days are now less than a week. They gave that stamp back 11 weeks ago.
Another friend with 30 day visa runs for years was just given a red stamp also. I do not know where they placed it in his passport.
It is just a warning to go ahead into Thailand and get your stuff sorted out before you leave.
I am sure you could return after 90 days.
LLL
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does this attractive red stamp say NEVER or Wait for 90 days?
I am taking it that it IS NOT A LIFETIME BLACKBALL. It implys that on your exit you should wait 90 days or go get a visa.
LLL
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The RED STAMP is here now!
I posted several days ago about a red stamp issued to a friend and now I hear of another. This is a preview of what is about to happen. They are not going to strand anybody at the airport or the boarder with too many 30 day stamps.
My prediction on available knowledge is:
Oct 1 immigration at all entrys will look into incomming passports and make a quick decision about how many stamps the holder has. When they are over the limit they will be given a RED STAMP put in a profound spot (like the first page). This RED STAMP says " Upon exiting Thailand you MAY NOT be permitted to reenter"
So this person would have a month and maybe an extension to go pack his bags or try to get another type of Visa.
HOPE THIS HELPS THOSE IN NEED.
LLL
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The RED STAMP is here now!
I posted several days ago about a red stamp issued to a friend and now I hear of another. This is a preview of what is about to happen. They are not going to strand anybody at the airport or the boarder with too many 30 day stamps.
My prediction on available knowledge is:
Oct 1 immigration at all entrys will look into incomming passports and make a quick decision about how many stamps the holder has. When they are over the limit they will be given a RED STAMP put in a profound spot (like the first page). This RED STAMP says " Upon exiting Thailand you MAY NOT be permitted to reenter"
So this person would have a month and maybe an extension to go pack his bags or try to get another type of Visa.
HOPE THIS HELPS THOSE IN NEED.
LLL
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Immigration does require them. thanks for correcting me...
What does immigration want to see?
Should I bring copies of the leases on my properties to document income?
You can bring your paperwork....just do not show it to them unless they grab it out of your hands!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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The RED STAMP is here now!
I posted several days ago about a red stamp issued to a friend and now I hear of another. This is a preview of what is about to happen. They are not going to strand anybody at the airport or the boarder with too many 30 day stamps.
My prediction on available knowledge is:
Oct 1 immigration at all entrys will look into incomming passports and make a quick decision about how many stamps the holder has. When they are over the limit they will be given a RED STAMP put in a profound spot (like the first page). This RED STAMP says " Upon exiting Thailand you MAY NOT be permitted to reenter"
So this person would have a month and maybe an extension to go pack his bags or try to get a another type of Visa.
HOPE THIS HELPS THOSE IN NEED.
LLL
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question
"Not that I would ever suggest making false declarations to the authorities and not having read through this whole thread I wouldn't be surprised if someone has already suggested reporting your passport as lost and getting a new one issued, then having two passports, use each one alternatively in a rotating 90 days on/90 days off scenario. No doubt someone has already thought of this, but I would expect the computers used by immigration must have some way of detecting this and the free accommodation you will end up with as a result may not be to your liking."
answer
You can not do this because............To get a new passport you also have to get a new passport number and the old passport is cancelled. When you go to the thai immigration in BKK you have to get your existing visa or stamp transfered into your new passport. Now Thai Imm knows your old passport has been cancelled.
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My friend who does back to back tourist visas for years and is from UK has been warned about 2 months ago. His Tourist Visa(2+1) obtained in Vienchen had a "red stamp" along side visa sticker. It stated something like "Upon exiting Thailand admitance back to Thailand may not be allowed."
I look for this red stamp to be used as a flag for these visa runners. They have no intention of stranding anybody but will warn them. You will then have to get your things in order. I bet this starts on Oct 1st.
It might not be so difficult to thumb through your passport and see how many entrys have been made over the last three months. If you are a tourist then you will have multiple stamps out of the country with some lenght of stay.
I am a tourist and I do travel so I am interested on how they will treat me. If there is too much of a problem then I will just spend my tourist dollars some place else.
LLL
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All,
Maybe 20 sec to access your records on the computer. No way to process you in and out in 20 seconds.
LLL
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All,
Just came from BKK airport and the one thing that caught my eye was the guards at the departure first xray station. They had automatic weapons, red berrays(sp), and two to each station (dozens).
I havent ever seen them there before. Their fingers were on the triggers too.
LLL
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All,
OK OK I did not tell the full story but was only trying to simplify the story to collect info.
The long version is I did go through the "Taxie stand" but the price kept escalating and I called off the deal and did not go to another "Taxie stand". I went back to the hotel and got a worse price quoated. All this seems a bit much but I am not going for the standard ride of "to the airport" or "sukumvit area". I am going to a suberb of BKK that even the Thais have not that much knowledge of. When the address is presented in Thai they seem to think "pay day" because it is not a typical destination. I do get backup support from a Thai friend (over a mobile phone) that explains the address etc.
Sounds like I will comformise and go to as several taxie stands to get the price down to something acceptable. The destnation is only 30 min past the old airport. This advice seems sound and thanks.
All this said, the bull shit story that the Police want you to go through the hotel or taxie stand is a bit much for me to swallow. I called the taxie before story is a bit much also. There is an eliment out there on 2nd road that is preventing anybody to hale a taxie and do fair market practice just like BKK. I took a picture of the Thai that has been giving me problems and he has one of those black Police jackets and wears shorts with sandals and rides a 125 motorcycle. He is obviously not a police officer.
If this element gets the taxies trained or intimidated into funneling all the rides through the "taxie stands" they can jack up the price in time. Maybe this has been going on a long time etc. Maybe because of this very slow season this is just rare cases. I have taken all types of transport out of
Pattaya over the years and in the past have just accepted what prices were offered.
I was only looking for info and any further advice can be used. Thanks in advance,
LLL
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Dude,
I am saying that the Hotel charges B1500 and yes there are signs on 2nd road saying B800 but good luck on getting that rate. When I go down the road 50M away from their taxie stand and flag a taxie...yes they run out and comadere the taxie away from me. Several times this has happened.
I am not trying to get it for 400B but more like B1000. Yes I have succeded at times and failed doing this. The taxies are fine with this untill the guys sart running at the mouth.
Apparently you are not aware of this and think I am way out of line but then again I dare you to go flag your own cab like in BKK.
LLL
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Has the taxie situation always been like this or has the situation become more tough. I have been going to 2nd rd to get my own taxie only to be confronted by Thais that run the taxie stands all along the road. I am not doing this in front of their business but in areas well away from any of their stands. Before I can cut a deal with the BKK-Pattaya taxie a man will appear and foil the whole deal. I think he is intemidating the driver somehow.
I hear that the Samaui situation is bad and could Pattaya be getting the same?
If I go through the hotel it cost almost double!
Please advise.
thx
LLL
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What happened to BKK radio menu button on this web site? It was so easy and now its all gone.
LLL
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All,
Yes these boys are trying to make a living and some falang had probally just ripped them off. Here you are in their spot. They show you some attitude and you dont want to budge but do. Looking back in hinsight you could have done a whole host of things to defuse the situation.
1. Got on your mean motobike with cig hanging out and drove off. I dont think they see a lit cig as an excuse to not leave.
2. Told them you were a moto taxie driver also and WHERE THEY GO. Try some humor.
3. Get on your mean moto bike and do your best burn the tires on the pavement routene that even Evil Kanevil would be proud.
4. Walk over and repark your bike on down the street or even IN THE STREET.
We all have been there and going away very slow might have been an option.
Expect to be pissed off every so often and laugh about it.
LLL
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All,
From Udon to Pattaya the 407 bus company is the only one that offers this service. It is located down the street from Robinson Shopping. 407 is located right out on this street. It has multiple times and some of the buses come out of Nong Kha to Rayong. It is 11 hours or longer with a 20 min break in Korat.
The bus stops in Udon near Rajabat and the main bus station.
In Pattay it departs at the service station office just North of Central on Sukumvit Hy. It arrives in Pattaya and dumps you out on Sukumvit Hy at Central.
Cost is about 400B (forgot).
This bus can be miserable with the smell from the toilet, extra seats added (15 plastic chairs), and the heat of the day. Pick your pleasure of night travel, or hot day time.
If you take another bus and go through the BKK Mochit add about 3 hours on your schedule.
GOOD LUCK,
LLL
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All,
Anyone have experience selling back gold to the shops in Thailand. In relation to what the current price is, a percent of profit for the shops can be calculated.
Can anybody tell me what percent they are making on buy-back gold.
thx
LLL
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Some points to ponder....to carry passport or not.
I have been asked for PP by police at least 15 times and shown a zerox copy each time of PP. Did not even show the copy of the visa. The one time on a highway check they asked for the original passport and I told them it was locked up at the hotel. No problem yet.
I believe the real reason for PP hassel has nothing to do with PP or copy. If you break a traffic law and are reported then the police in the area are watching for you. They pull you over. They are not going to say you ran a traffic light two kilo back. They are going to shake you down for something. You better make it easy for them. I do recommend speaking English as they may not and they often take the easy way out. Be polite and easy going. You often pay on the spot B200 and off you go. If they offer to have a moto taxie take your ticket to the station then go ahead and pay the taxie and the ticket. Better than the hassel that can await you at the station.
If they can not find anything wrong then they start on PP etc.
Wear and tear on passport can be a factor in not carrying around all the time. I do think about high risk traveling etc and carry accordingly (airport etc).
To replace the US passport you should have a copy of first page and the visa. You will need another ID. Something like $70US and two weeks time unless emergency. A police report or a damaged PP. After recieving PP you will need to visit Thai Immigration to have you visa put in new PP. ALL THIS TAKES TIME AND MONEY. LEAVE THE PP LOCKED UP AT HOME. CARRY A COPY.
No problem yet.
LLL
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INFO FORDonations
Name of organisation: The Camillian Centre
Contact person: Father Giovanni Contarin
Address: 1/1 Soi Kir, Huae Pong, Rayong, 21150, Thailand
Telephone: 03-868-5480
Fax: 03-868-7480
Email: [email protected]
Web site: www.camillian-rayong.org
Bank info: Account name: St Camillus Foundation of Thailand, Bank of Ayudhya, Map-Ta-Phut Branch Rayong, account number 229-1-29336-3, (AYUDTHBK)
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From BKK Post 18th
WE CARE
Practicing what you preach
Long regarded as a disease primarily affecting prostitutes and drug users, one Catholic priest is trying to show Thai people that there are many other faces of HIV and Aids
Story and photos by MARK BEALES
Pang jumps from the swing, takes a piece of paper and tries to write her name in English.
The five-year-old manages P, A, and G, but the "N" invariably ends up as an "M". She giggles as she tries again, and eventually makes it.
Pang is a chubby-cheeked, cheerful, precocious, little girl. Pang is also HIV positive.
She lives at the Camillian Social Centre in Rayong, along with 36 other children, and more than 50 adults.
The centre has been in existence for 10 years and has successfully created a tranquil place for patients, and has also helped to educate communities about HIV and Aids.
Italian priest Father Giovanni Contarin, who launched the centre, knows the importance of educating children like Pang for the future. He also knows how critical it is that Thai adults have a greater knowledge of the disease.
Many Thais still only associate HIV with working girls and tourists from the red-light centres of Pat Pong, Pattaya and Patong. In reality, it's the Thais not involved in the sex trade that are now indulging in high risk behaviour.
In Thailand, the number of faithful wives who are infected by their promiscuous husbands is among the highest in the world, as the "culture" of having sex outside of marriage is still prevalent.
In addition, young Thai girls are experimenting more with sex, often ignorant of the risks. Fr Contarin said that if things are to improve then it is Thai women, and not men, whose attitudes must change.
"In Thailand, nine percent of girls between 14 and 18 have sex. Later, when they come to have a boyfriend and girlfriend, they don't acknowledge their past history.
"Now, most of the infections are in the family and among many young people not in the sex trade. But Thai people still point to that group of working girls or the gay community."
The need for greater knowledge may be obvious, but even being allowed to talk about HIV in schools and offices is a challenge in itself.
"It took two years to get permission to organise HIV prevention activities and action plans for government schools. They said 'we don't have the power to decide, we have to go through the provincial office.'
"After two years I said, in front of the governor, 'I'm so bored, we are ready to go and we can do an action plan,"' said Fr Contarin.
Eventually the priest and his team of educators were allowed in. But still, teachers do not want to participate fully in HIV preventative education, where talking about sex is essential.
Factories first thought it would be invading workers' freedom to impose such training upon them. Now 80 factories, 13 schools and 12 communities benefit from action plans and preventative training. In addition, about 25 working girls from Pattaya come to the centre each month for HIV prevention training.
Listening to Fr Contarin, it's impossible not to be moved. He talks frankly and passionately about the subject. For more than 10 years he has worked in the field of HIV prevention, fighting against prejudices and fears.
And things are improving. Medication is more available and of a better quality. In the past 10 years, the rate of infection has dropped from an annual figure of 150,000 to around 20,000 today, although the reasons for this are economic as well as educational.
Fr Contarin explained: "There are many factors behind the lower infection rate. There's the condom campaign, education and economics.
"Eighty-five percent of Thai married men have sex outside marriage monthly, but now these people have less money to do this."
Today the issues are changing, and it is crucial that Thais alter their sexual habits if things are to improve further. Fr Contarin is keen to stress a new awareness and knowledge about "love and fidelity" as a value in Thai tradition and culture.
Another change is the growing number of women in need of help.
"Now we have more women at the centre than men. The numbers are increasing because of the increasing promiscuity. Before it was only prostitutes, now it's more than that. Another reason is that HIV naturally infects women more than men.
"Women outside the sex industry are more promiscuous, especially the young. We have to educate them about this because there's not enough understanding.
"This girl," Fr Contarin said, pointing to a patient wrapped in a blue blanket watching television, "she was not a prostitute. She is 19 and was married four times."
The priest has lived in Thailand for 20 years, but still speaks with an Italian passion and flair about HIV awareness. It's this desire for amelioration that has helped so many.
Children at Camillian come from extremely poor families and were infected by their parents; many are orphans.
The adults come from a variety of backgrounds and are generally referred to the centre by hospitals. Some of their families visit, many do not.
Camillian has a collection of small buildings, which include a handicraft centre, social area, playground, chapel and a pavilion in the middle of a pond. There is also a palliative care unit for sick patients with a full-time assistant nurse.
Most children go to local schools and are taken on occasional outings; the adults who are well enough do small tasks. Several adults live 40km away at the Garden of Eden, a specially-designated area of land where the patients grow their own vegetables. Life is as normal as it can be.
As we tuck into the canteen for pasta and pizza, Fr Contarin points out that the canteen staff is also HIV-positive.
It's one of the few centres in the world where the staff truly understand all the patients' problems. Nearly all the staff here have HIV, including Tong, a former drug user who is now a nurse.
He worked in hotels and for a bungee jump ride in Pattaya until he had a motorbike accident nearly 10 years ago. A routine blood test showed he was HIV-positive _ the result of heroin use. He continued to work until tuberculosis (TB) symptoms forced him to stop. The Camillian Centre looked after him for 11 months in its infirmary until he was well enough to work again. He lived with his family but became increasingly worried about the chance of infecting them, and when the TB symptoms returned, he chose to move to the Camillian Centre. Tong, 36, met his wife there and adopted her daughter, who are both also patients.
He then trained at the centre for two years and now helps other patients in the palliative care unit, checking that they take their medicine and helping with any emotional or spiritual issues they may have.
The salary he receives means his family can rent a home outside the centre and live independently.
Sommit is 42 and from Chon Buri. He said: "I went to hospital four years ago for a health check because I've got diabetes. I had a blood test and they found I was HIV-positive. I used to inject heroin."
Sommit is thin, missing teeth and has tattoos all over his chest. Living at the centre means he has access to all the drugs he needs to keep him well, and the support of others in the same situation. Outside the centre most people understand, but there are still prejudices.
"When I go to the local shops some are okay and don't mind, but some shops won't put the change in my hand. They just put it on the table."
Fr Contarin has little time for such attitudes and is critical of many things, including public schools.
He said: "Schools in Thailand are not doing enough. They explain about the physical part of the body, they explain about birth control, but they don't let the students talk about their situations, to ask questions and to interact with the subject."
The one irony behind a Catholic-based group's involvement in HIV prevention is the church's stance on condoms.
Fr Contarin said: "It is very important to understand the word 'prevention' and 'protection'. I live with HIV-positive people and I can see that the message of abstinence is not so understood. I believe in life and I'll try my best to educate people to defend it by practicing safe sex according to their beliefs."
When it comes to saving lives, there's a prerequisite to be practical.
As if proof were needed, the priest handed two photographs of a girl. In the first she is in a hotel room, leaning provocatively against a dresser with her legs slightly apart. She is wearing a polka-dot skirt and an orange and brown hooped top.
In the second photo, taken a year later, she is lying on a bed, her skeletal body covered by a thin shirt and incontinence pad; the ravaging effects of Aids all too obvious.
Fr Contarin puts the photographs away and pulls out a scrapbook. Inside are newspaper cuttings of the first HIV centre in Bangkok. Each story tells how the site had to close after it was attacked by bombs and shot at by a sniper.
Thankfully, things are much better than before. Preventative and educational work will ensure future Thai generations are at least armed with the knowledge of the deadly effects of HIV. Whether they choose to put that knowledge into practice is the major question still left unanswered.
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All,
A year or so ago there was a 55 yr old blond/grey white gal that hung out on walking street. She would hit on the go-go girls. The three times I saw her she managed to get kicked out of the places for groping the girls.
Some of the white gals you see could be from the NGO/Christian who have a presence in Pattaya.
Amen,
LLL
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All,
Just some thoughts I have about this from Thailand.....
There have been fake Viagra/Komagra out there but I doubt that it is now sold in the Pharmacys. MAYBE this guy took a batch of the fake and could not get results. The next batch he took too much.
Pharmacys have tightened up with distribution....cost and availability have shown this.
"Did you hear about the school boy who took some Viagra? He got third degree burns on his hands!"
There have been several stories about Viagra in the news.
Hope all this news does not <deleted> it up for everybody,
LLL
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All,
International bus between Udon/NK and Laos. There are two separate bus schedules from NongKhi/Udon into Vienchien. The Udon bus goes direct and does not stop at bus station in NongKai etc.
Here it is guys.....
Bus leaves from Udon main bus station something like 7:30AM, 8:30AM and 11:30AM and stops at bridge to let everyone do the paper work. The bus then proceeds into Vienchien main bus staion. All this for 80B.
Return from Vienchien (can not remember the times) about three times a day and does the reverse same same to Udon. If you are doing a boarder run then go on into Vienchien and do a couple hours shopping at the Green Top shopping area (Main Market) next door. Then go back on the same International bus. If you dont do this then you will save very few minutes and spend alot more for tuk tuks etc.
If they give you a problem at the bus station in Udon about not having a visa, tell them you get a visa on arrival. The bus ticket guys are not trained as to which countrys etc get visa on arrival. Sometimes they pass out the forms on the bus.
As I understand it the Nong Kai International does the same service and leaves from Main Bus Station in Downtown NongKai.
Make a run for the border!
LLL
Total Duration Versus Stamps Controversy
in Thai Visas, Residency, and Work Permits
Posted
The intent of the red stamp is a warning to go ahead into Thailand and make plans to leave. When you do leave you have 90 days or should have a new Visa. If you show up at the boarder the immigration officer can use his own judgement on whether to let you in.
Another case I saw some time back was immigration got pissed at the person and put an + above the persons head on his passport. I am sure that at every immigration check point that person got extra attension.
LLL