differentbutsamesame

I have the TRUEmove 3G "unlimited" plan on my S3 and I like to do some work on it while i'm on the road, but how safe is it really?

Is there any type of encryption on the 3G network or can anyone with a packetsniffer intercept my data?

I found one today at Home Pro and it was half the price of the yogurt maker...

The next problem is the Canadian plug consists of two pins which of one is a bit wider. It looks the same like a Thai plug but it doesn't fit into the converter. I've put a cheap travel adapter inbetween but i worry about the safety of it. The converter isn't grounded so far i know. I'm not an electrician so i'll make a photo and post it later on.

With all the safety problems in mind i have purchased a yogurt maker from a Thai brand today @ 1400 baht or so.... it's not grounded so how can i improve the safety of the thing? Last thing i want is to find my condo burned down.

I'll buy a proper machine next time i'm in my homecountry but in the meanwhile i need one of these two running for at least 24 hours per batch.

Thanks guys, i'll buy a simple step down transformer then.

Any recommendations on where to exactly buy it? I've been to Big C, Tesco, Central and home depot without luck.

@Crossy, The 110v - 220v debacle didn't cross my mind when i ordered the thing.

It's a yogurt maker http://www.lyo-san.ca/english/yogourmet/#yaourtiere and it uses 12 watts.

I'm afraid the thing will become too hot if it receives more than 120v, thus killing all the probiotic bacteria in the yogurt. The bacteria need to be cultured between 38 and 43 degrees celcius. Maybe i can attach a dim-switch to it as well.

I've imported a kitched appliance from Canada which is not available in Thailand. The problem is the voltage is set to 120v / 60 cycles but

the voltage in Thailand is 220v / 50 cycles. I've been searching for a step-down converter today without any luck.

Can anyone tell me where to buy one in Bangkok? And will the difference in cycles cause a problem?

How about the pingtimes? Any difference there?

My building supports true's high speed cable (docsis) connection but is it really better than ADSL?

Their 50 mbit up / 5mbit down offer looks pretty good for just 2799 / month.

ADSL is working fine but if cable is better for international traffic and NS response times i will switch.

Anyone here who has used both products?

Edit:

I just read TRUE cable is "community" based. The more cable connections in the same building the slower the internet connection will be and in that case it's better to use ADSL. Is that correct?

Thanks

Thanks. I'll just order it from the apple website then.

I'd like to buy an Iphone 5 in BKK but it seems to be sold out everywhere and it's not possible to order one at the apple store. Is there any place where i might get lucky?

Thanks.

In Villa and Gourmet supermarkets they sell Grain and Grass fed Australian beef.

I'm not sure if there have been any antibiotics or hormones used. There may be a way to find out though.

I'll check it out tomorrow. Thank you.

I've found a few other sources as well:

orgathai.com

"Our “CSA Munching Box” is a convenient weekly/monthly subscription service bringing you fresh and healthy organic fruit and vegetables delivered directly to your door!"

Lemonfarm.com

Shama's farmer market

Shama's Farmer's Market is every 3rd Sunday of the month from 09.00 till 14.00. It is behind the Marriott Hotel , between Sukumvit soi 2 and soi 4.

There are a few organic farmers, Urban Tree bio cosmetics, Raitong Organic Farm (rice and vegetables), MicroGreens , vegetarian foodstalls and more !

Aw taw kaw co-op farmersmarket At chatuchak

Seems to be a high-end market with lots of quality stuff

http://tastythailand.com/aw-taw-kaw-bangkoks-organic-fresh-fruit-vegetables-and-seafood-market/

http://www.thaiorganicfood.com/

Thai Organic Farm was founded in 2000. Since 2001, our farm has been certified by Organic Agriculture Certification Thailand, accredited by IFOAM. The farm is located in Rachaburi province. It takes approximately one and a half hour drive to travel to the farm from Bangkok airport.

I think i've also seen some kind of "organic" shop at k-village???

So there's definately some organic vegetables available, but i'm more interested in grass-fed beef and real wild fish like salmon.

I'm improving my diet and i'd like to replace the lower quality beef, poultry and fish which i usually buy at tesco or big C with safer alternatives.

Does anyone know where i can find the following in Bangkok?

Grass-fed beef, no antibiotics and no hormones used.

Grass-fed butter

Pastured or organic chicken

Wild fish like salmon, not farmed!

Imported shrimps / squid also not farmed!

I walked by Paragon california a few days ago and it was fully packed. I don't understand how they have gone bankrupt having so many paying members. The equipment is not of very high quality and it's not well maintained so that's not the biggest cost. Maybe it's all the discoballs and discolighting? Or maybe that asshol_e Eric Levine bought a few houses too many.

Another lie from California?

Can anyone give me an update on California wow sukhumvit 23? My gf told me it was closed last monday.

KL will not issue you a visa if you have a red stamp.

I expect no consulate will accomodate you on this.

Your best bet is to leave the country for 6 months and then return and apply.

Consulates are becoming very particular lately on issuing visas.

Oh ok, it's not a big deal. I'll just keep flying out to KL every 30 days until i get my new business visa in a month or 4.

The consulate in amsterdam did give me a double entry tourist visa AFTER i received the red stamp though. I've never been questioned about it.

You could try KL but it would only be a single entry. The red stamp might be a problem though at any nearby consulate.

Since you have spending money for flights to KL you could possibly afford a trip to Australia where you could get a 3 entry at one of the honorary consulates (Brisbane is often mentioned) that would give you almost 9 months without getting a new visa.

That might be a good idea. Maybe i'll take a little holiday to Australia with my gf next month.

I guess it's off to KL again...

I've been reading the visa section of the forum and it seems like it's getting harder and harder to obtain a tourist visa.

What's the "easiest" place to obtain a tourist visa nowadays?

I have a red stamp from the thai embassy in Vientiane. What's the chance of having my visa refused?

Savannakhet, don't really wanna go there.

Phnom Penh is out of the picture this time because i don't want to use an agent and without an agent the turnaround time is 4 days + return ticket to home country required which i don't have.

That leaves;

Kuala Lumpur

Hanoi/Ho chi minh

Criteria;

- Quick turnaround time. 2 days or so.

- No return air ticket to my home country

- Can show bank statement but prefer not to, private

- Don't want to use a non-official agent, i don't just trust anyone with my passport

sidenotes;

- Multiple Tourist visa's from Amsterdam, Vientiane. 2 business visa's from Amsterdam. Many visa-exempt stamps from suvarnabhumi. Usually i fly to KL every month and back on the same day, never had a problem but i'm getting bored of wasting a whole day every month.

Finally some closure on this issue.

Yesterday i got a call from a UPS manager telling me he could help me out, the customs official wanted 500 baht to keep my supplements out of sight from the FDA. I had to pay the money to someone's bank account. I didn't want to create a papertrail so i refused and told him i only want to pay cash and meet the customs official personally. After a while the UPS manager said ok, you have to go to suvarnabhumi freezone, my staff will pick you up and bring you to the customs official.

After a while the manager called me again telling me the customs official got very angry because i wanted to meet him to pay him personally so he blew the deal off and sent my package to the FDA.... The manager got very nervous at that point because i was pissed as well and mentioned my lawyer a few times. It was a bit unnecessary after all because the manager and his assistant only tried to help me out, they don't get a cut of the deal (i was told, but if that's true i don't know. They stood by my side and assisted me with everything today the whole afternoon.).

Today i went to the freezone to try to convince (and bribe) the FDA official to clear the "illegal" supplements. That didn't work out hehe, she didn't want my money. After that i met a higher ranking customs official but she couldn't help me out as well, she understood my point and agreed the FDA is too strict on the allowance of certain ingredients/actives. For example, more than 2mg vitamin B6 in a multivitamin is classed as "medicine".

So back to the FDA, paperwork done but i have to wait about a month for my parcel because it has to go FDA clearance first.

Supplements taken by the FDA/customs:

Musclepharm - Assault (pre-workout)

Controlled labs - Orange triad (high dosed multi-vit)

Musclepharm - ZMA max (ZMA blend)

Total worth supplements + shipping + tax/clearance fees about $140..... Why didn't i just pay the 500 baht to the middleman....

Strange thing is most other supplements also contain a very high percentage of actives but those got cleared without any problem.

Lessons learned:

- Never ship anything again with UPS, especially supplements. They charge all kinds of extra fees and you have a high chance your package will be inspected by a very corrupt customs official.

- Don't start arguing with corrupt customs officials, just pay the money to the middleman, it's not worth to go through the whole hassle and having your goods taken away at the end.

Glad to hear your stuff came through without any problems. How long did it take to arrive?

So it's now confirmed, i'm dealing with a corrupt official. She just called and asked if i want to come by, she can negotiate with me...

Another person will call me again to answer my "difficult" questions.

Newsflash.

UPS (or corrupt broker?) called me again. Customs is refusing to release the package because they deemed it to be "medicines".

He explained to my girlfriend the customs fears it's poison and people will die if i sell it. What the.....

I got a phonenumber of a customs employee to NEGOTIATE the release of my package..... I called and a lady picked up the phone but she didn't speak English and would call me back later. How has she determined the goods are "medicines" if she doesn't speak English?

I expect she wants to meet in a backalley to negotiate the release of the package for a certain amount of money.

I've been quite a while in Thailand now and this is the first time i have to deal with a corrupt official. I don't really know how to play this, thai style and pay up or make some effort to bring shit onto that corrupt snake? I found a lawyer that specializes in corruption and customs. At the moment i don't care the lawyer will probably be (much) more expensive than paying the corrupt snake, i just want to see the bitch hang high.

I also ordered some fish oil capsules I hope I won't have the same problems. Supplements are crazy expensive here.

Yeah very expensive and a very limited range to choose from.

I sincerely hope the FDA customs person made a mistake but i fear corruptness is in the game and someone either wants money or keeps the supplements for himself.

What can i do if they don't want to release my package and confiscate all products? Can i have a talk with the bureaucrat who deemed my supplements to be medicines?

The supplements i ordered are similar to the ones that are sold by GNC, Musashi etc.

I just received an email from UPS again... The FDA found the supplements to be "medicines". How can fish oil be a medicine? Bunch of corrupt and incompetent bureaucrats.

Dear,

After we had process with the customs , they found the goods are medicines.

Today , the Customs and FDA administration not permit to released the package, we will re-process on tomorrow again.

So , will keep you for update status if the problem can’t to process further or if they need more the document will let you know later.

Sorry for inconvenience.

I think that's awesome. Makes me feel layered. Like some sort of epic lasagna

The thaivisa trollsquad has arrived. A bit late no?

Thanks for your reply.

So you mean these charges only apply when the shipment is done by courier - UPS, fedex etc.?

If i have it shipped by USPS next time i'll only have to pay import duty (VAT)?

I've imported supplements 7 or 8 times last few years all shipped by UPS. I never had to deal with the Thai FDA clearance before.

I've ordered some supplements like whey and vitamins from the US and had it shipped with UPS priority which i had to pay $96 for. The order itself was about $300.

Last night i got an email from a UPS rep. telling me i've to pay 2000 baht or so which is not import duty! The import duty will be charged on top of that.

I don't mind to pay import duty but what's up with all other fees? I've imported a lot of stuff for personal use and i've never been charged like this time.

There is the import shpt under tr# XXXXX which being hold in the customs to process the clearance. Below is the breakdown of charges in case you select UPS as the clearance broker:

- Customs formality charges 1,284.00 Baht

- Warehouse fee 80.25 Baht per day until the shpt can release ( minimum charges is 267.50 Baht)

- Terminal charges 192.60 Baht.

- Customs fee 200.00 Baht

- Import duty will be informed again after the customs assessed the duty.

Best regards,

name.

Border Clearance Department

UPS Parcel Delivery Service Ltd.

Suvarnabhumi Airport Thailand

UPS tracking shows the following information:

Bangkok, Thailand 02/20/2012 8:43 P.M.

An import license is missing and is required for clearance.

An import license??? It's for personal use, i've imported tons of supplements before and never had to deal with an import license.

So i emailed the rep. again and this is what she had to say.

For Import Supplement must to process thru Food and Drug administration before release shpt from the warehouse.

What the hell?

Has anyone experienced something similar with UPS/customs or do they think i'm importing it for commercial use?