threelegcowboy

Kidtongue,

Just to clarify....

"So...what does it cost? Anywhere from 10,000 to 30,000, depending on what part of the country.If you have a Thai insurance policy the benefits must be paid out within 1 month to the benficiary (some agnets like to say it takes longer) but it is probably better to have a separate bank account designated just for that purpose"

Is that money figure in Baht or dollars?

thx

LLL

Sorry for such a downer topic but this seems to be a hot subject with us older folks.

I have heard different accounts about what happens but need facts with sources etc but hope I dont have to consult a lawyer.

Need dollar figures etc for creamation in Thailand.

Need dollar figure for prep and shipment back to the states.

Here is what I have heard about the process, please correct me.

When you die in Thailand either the police or the hospital notifies the embassy in BKK. The embassy notifies your next of kinship back in the states. If your married to a Thai then the Thai wife has charge of your funerial. If you are single then the relatives back in the states are notified and are told that they can have a cremation in Thailand or cremation/burial in US. The embassy wants the funds to be secured before the body can be released from the Thais. I hear that the cost of the creamation is about $2000 in Thailand. Prep and shipment back to the US could cost $20,000.

OK you guys please no jokes.

Never heard of a passport for a vehicle.

You can take a car or motorcycle across the border into Cambodia or Malaysia

without too much difficulty.

You will need the Thai Registration Book, which needs to be in your name.

Tell the immigration your are taking the vehicle and they will note the fact,

then go to the customs officials to get the paper to re-import the vehicle.

A small fee is usually payable.

For Malaysia you will have to buy insurance at the border.

For travel further afield you may require a Carnet de Passage which guarantees you will take the vehicle back with you, or pay the necesary import duty.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Sorry have not actually seen just going on what I was told. Sounds like you guys are giving sound advice.

Thx

LLL

Cheap Bike Transport

I have checked several times on transport of small bike by train and each time was cheaper than by bus. But the train does not go everywhere.

Bus from Udon to Pattaya charges B800 for a 125cc. You need to prep the bike. Take off the mirrors and drain the petrol. For good mesures you might leave the cap off for a few hours and let the remaining fumes evaporate. The company might check for this. It is amazing to see them load. Twice I have seen them take a bike to the front cargo hold and push in with only an inch to spare. Then they put the main kickstand up and push to the front. No straps.

Happy trails

LLL

The only time I have had a plesant shopping spree at an Indian tailor was not like you would expect. I was to attend a birthday party at a bar just opposite an Indian tailor. Upon arrival to the party I was hailed by everyone at the bar that the shirt that I was wearing would not be appropriate for this party. Everyone with loud shirts pointed accross the soi to an Indian tailor with lots of shirts out front and oddly enough were of the same type being worn by the bar patrons. I marched over and after sorting through a mountain of shirts found a pattern that no one accross the soi was wearing. Paid a reasonable price and I am sure this Indian tailor has yet to match this buying benge that he had that day.

Need advice on getting a passport for my motorbike as I would like to drive international. My friend has a passport for his car...has a picture like passport I think.

A feature could be for translation services both written and over the phone.

Need advice,

I only have a tourist visa and have been renting bikes for way too long. I will not get any other type visa. I want a bike, not a rental.

I have a Honda dealer telling me he will lease me a bike at basicly the price of the bike. They will get license, plates, and insurance for the bike only it remains in their name. Upon termination they will give me fair market value.

Anybody have good results with this method?

Perfered Bike is Honda 125...how much are they going for?

Thx

LLL

BKK to Pattaya shipping could be done by:

Train - Take to train station in BKK and is really cheap. Ask at train staion about cost and prep for mbike.

Bus - Can take on public bus but must take hours of prep work. Drain petrol and let gas evaporate. Remove mirrors. They will place in cargo hold upright on main kick stand and up against the front wall of hold.. Cost B800.

BahtBus

Hire a taxie driver to drive bike or just to lead you all the way to Pattaya on Bike.

Best of Luck

LLL

My second bike is registered in BKK and I take it to the Phathum Thani provincial transport office. Only have to show a mechanical inspection report when re-applying for tax and rego.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I have bought gold at my favorite gold shop and trust them because they will buy back or tradein my gold. They look for thier stamp near the clasp, weight the gold to a fraction of a gram then make you an offer depending on the price of gold that day. Some shops have a tv going with gold price in real time.

1 baht gold weighs 15 grams. A troy ounce of gold is 30 grams. So 2 baht is 1 troy ounce. The large gold jewelery can be deceptive because it is hollow and weight seems light.

Purity of gold is very difficult to determine and could be cost prohibited to do. This is why you should trade at the same shop. They can recognise thier stamp and are confident in doing a trade in with thier former merchandise.

Workmanship cost about B400 the last time I bought. So add this cost to each item of gold jewlery plus the gold price.

I am no expert so take my advice with caution,

LLL

All,

Have taken very many taxie rides in Thailand and can only tell you it is a constant learning experience. Here goes.

Be aware when using the taxie and pay special attention to everything.

Tell driver you want meter before entering taxie. Look for meter in taxie as it should have the base rate already on meter. Make sure he turns it on. Converse with him and feel comfortable. Loook for his taxie registration with his pic etc. also his taxie number for future ref.

Try having a destination business card in Eng/Thai so he knows where he is going.

Look for a newer taxie some are so old they should not be on the road. Look out for driver who is drunk, has different colored interior lights (difficult to read baht notes), has a holder filled with knives.

Try to put all your lugage in seats with you not in trunk. Stay with your bags. Keep the most valuable near you. Remember to get everything out of taxie. Make a habit of checking the most valuable things when exiting the taxie.

Most left item for me is an umberela.

Tips on saving money is to get on proper side if road so taxie does not have to make a uturn. It may cost you 50B to turn your taxie around. Share a ride when possible. If the driver protest about sharing the meter then tell him to turn meter off at first destination and settle up on fare cost. Then start a new fare to the second destionation.

Toll roads are good if the driver recommends them use them and you pay for them. He gets paid by kilometer and he knows the trafic patterns. Price will be shown at gate. Should be 30B or 40B per gate.

Try having alot of small change so you can pay him exact amount you want him to have. If he did a good job give him a small tip etc.

Having said all that, I have met some of the most carring and easy going drivers ever. They have saved me thousands of baht. It is a mixed bag so try to be careful but not negative.

Still the cheapest taxie I have ever used.

Happy Trails,

LLL

Best Guess,

The guy had a bag full of money or something valuable. The pilot found out before the plane trip. He never got on the plane..pilot killed him and got rid of the body.

The pilot then damaged the door to look like it was forced open.

The pilot then flew around, landed and came up with this story.

Got a better explanation?

LLL

All,

It is no secret that aquiring tourist visas in PP is near impossible. A review of PP on this board would have given a clue.

I went to said office expecting problems for a 2+1 tourist visa and I got turned down. Written on my application was two additional requirements. 1. Thai bank account with B800,000. 2. Letter from landloard. They told me to get my 30 tourist visa on entry. This was 9 mounths.

There is a sign on the wall that says you can be turned down and fee CAN BE nonrefunded. So I did not argue. There was a total of two falangs at that office.

Apparntly everybody knows to go to Vientiane to get these visas as there are about 300 per day doing their visas. As I understand things have changed there in the last few months. They want the local agencies to help with the forms etc so Thai/Laos can make some money.

Some advice has been given to me to go Singapore and apply for an O visa. I may do this as things may change.

TIT the goal post move frequently and it is all about money.

LLL

SORRY I POSTED UNDER SOME OTHER BLOKE HERE IN AN INTERNET CAFE,TIT,LOL

All,

Like I said before the Thai visa system in Lao did work efficently. A guy tried to sell me a visa service while I was in line. I TOLD HIM MY HAND WAS NOT BROKEN, I COULD FILL OUT THE PAPERWORK MYSELF.

Now you guys are discussing Thai corruption. You can resist as best you can but in the end you still play thier game. Pay now or if you give us trouble pay more later. A simple trip to the police staion to pay a simple fine can take hours. My time is worth more than that. THIS IS THAILAND.

Learn to be more like the Thai and realize you can only influence so much and accept the rest as living in Thailand. Take the best of Thailand and ignore (live with) the rest.

If you truly are a journalist then please study up on Thai society, go live with some Thais, and understand that you truly will not understand everything ever.

Just learning myself like everybody else,

LLL

All,

A few months ago I used the Thai Embassy in Vientiane and had great results. The vendor visa stands out front were all gone and the visa business folks were getting few takers. The embassy processed about 300 people that morning.

The next day pickup was just as easy.

My take on the current situation is that it was too efficent. It worked but the locals were not making the money. So the slowdown has come and probally from top management in Vienteane.

Good luck on getting anything changed.

LLL

Hong Kong Dong,

I am sure a few of you have heard about this one! A guy had told me of his ordeal.

This guy went to an American doc about a problem with his dick. The American doc told him he would have to go right into surgery and have all his dick amputated. He had Hong Kong Dong. The guy in horor asked to have a second opinon.

The guy next went to a Chinese doc who upon examination exclamed you have Hong Kong Dong! The guy asked will I have to have it amputated? The Chinese docs reply................No just wait 2 weeks it will dry up and fall off.

See the American Doc in PP at American Mediacl Center

near 51/214?

LLL

Heat rash,

Have had problems with this in LOS. If you sweat alot day after day and take many showers etc then all your natural oil is washed away. You are always wet and your skin is unprotected thus a skin rash. Just like a baby diaper rash.

To heal this you might need an ointment from the pharmist. If the first one they give does not work then keep trying other types. Once it is cleared up then start using baby oil every day or two. It will protect you from mosture. For me baby powder just turned to mush and was only good if I stayed in aircon all day.

Works for me,

LLL

Amulets

Yes they have their good points as you guys have mentioned. Another you might not have considered is how the Thais treat you when they see the amulet. Just day to day activities. The extreme case might be when emergency personel give you better care upon seeing your amulet.

LLL

The Jesus Mysteries, a book on early Christians and how their beliefs evolved was a real eye opener for me. I can say that it changed my life and puts many things about religion in perspective. I would recommend it to anybody with an open mind. For those folks that have blind faith this book is not for you.

30 day visa at Popiet for Thailand

I have gone back to back 30 day visas to Popiet for at least 10 times. I am now booked to go again through a company here in Pattaya. The clerk has reassured me several times over the past week that there have been no problems for the30 day back to back visas. They must do several hundred visa runs a week. I am sure alot of them are back to back.

These visa companys see no end in sight.

The new computers may be the only change that visa run falangs are seeing. If you have alot of stamps in your passport they may want to check your stamps against what they have in the computer. If they stall while you are being processed then maybe the computer is SLOW. They are waiting fori nfo before clearing you.

If you arewaiting in line with your friends and seem to be having TOO good of a time laughing and causing a scene then maybe they want you to be more serious. They could give you special treatment. Then there are the countrys they give special precautions to process. Be reserved when you go for a visa stamp andact like they are doing you a favor. They are in charge.

As for why would a person go every month for a 30 day visa:

Leave 7:15 AM return 5:45PM

Sometimes meet interesting people

Not that expensive 2000-2500B per trip all

Do not have to stay over night

Do not have any extra requirements for visa

LLL