Ulic

My favorite is the Pattaya fake floating market. Expensive souvenirs and they also want

a wacking big entry fee. 

Just wondering how many applications a day are processed prior to this new quota limit. 

At least you don't have to pay for the scooter repairs. Just another life lesson.

Dowery, she comes with nothing, You mean Bride Price. Some get it back, minus wedding expenses.

Some get nothing back. Depends on so much. You will get all the information here. If she has been married

before or has kids, I say give nothing. The first guy paid the upfront lump sum and you will be making

the parent's retirement pension. 

Your friend was swindled as many have been. Just move on and take the loss. Especially if the

business partner is as well connected as you have indicated. As the saying goes. To make a

small fortune in the bar business in Pattaya, start with a large one. Sorry for your friend's loss.

Quite a few actually. Immigration in Phuket Airport asked for 1,500 overstay when I

was only two days over. The officer saw I had extra baht in my wallet. Police occasionally.

One time my friend was stopped for not wearing a helmet. I pulled over as well. My friend

was giving him the gears, I started to giggle. The officer became irate at me. Gave me a

ticket for not wearing a helmet. When I protested as I was wearing a helmet he said the chin

strap was not tight enough and I got a ticket along with my buddy. A few other similar po-po

shakedowns. The only significant loss was 19k baht. A lady friend I "invited" home for the

night. She jimmied the lock on a drawer and took 19k of 25 I had in a billfold. Lessons learned.

5 hours ago, duanebigsby said:

That's kind of an A---hole thing to do. If in a country with a culture of tipping respect it.

In the US restaurants are allowed to pay far less than minimum wage and staff rely on tipping.

I don't like that system but I respect the workers.

The problem is it is out of hand in the US. From-10% to 15% to 18% now 20%. And this is

now considered the minimum, even if the food is bad, and the service poor. After all it was

not the servers fault. The cook/chef prepared a poor meal or the restaurant was busy so

service is slow. If the food is good and service good 25% and up is expected. Also that is on

the full bill including taxes. And before anyone says well, of course the percentage of the gratuity

has increased, thing are more expensive I would remind them the inflation price in meals gives

serving staff an increase. Originally in France when the service charge went up from 10%-15%

it was to include other staff in the tip pool. Also the tip was on food only, not on wine and alcohol. 

6 hours ago, Monkeyrobot said:

If it’s 10% service charge then no tip, if you took 4 people to dinner and the bill was 3000B then you would have 300B on top for service. But if no service charge then up to you.

The problem with the service charges is they almost never go to the staff.They are just another

revenue stream for the restaurant owner. I try never to patronize restaurants with service charges. 

At a restaurant, I usually tip 20 or possibly round up to the denomination note I have

in my wallet. If I am at a beer bar I will round up the 90 baht beer charge to 100. If at

a Go-Go bar I tend not to buy lady drinks. I just give the girls a 100 baht tip. Better for

them cheaper for me, (never barfine there, I just like to look and kill some time) For the

airport Taxi drivers from Mr. Taxi I tip well. The airport fare is cheap (900-1100 baht).

My arrival is often a little late. (I know not my fault but still) They are always there waiting.

Door to door service, I am happy to be arriving, or I have a lot of cash when I am leaving. 

So a 300-500 tip if they have been quick, on time, and got me there safely without scaring me.

It is so everyone can see that everyone is paying, not just a few. Nota big deal I would think.

When I did it two years ago it was very quick and efficient. I had printed out the forms in advance. I had all photos and documents asked for. I was in and out in less than three minutes. Picked up my passport the next day in less than 60 seconds. They did not ask to see any cash on my person but I did have 30k baht in case they did. Of course things may have changed in the meantime. I enjoyed my trip to Vietnam so much   that I made another shortly before returning to Canada. Have a great trip. 

Who knows, maybe if she drives the numbers down she will ask for a discount on the 

price of the restaurant. Things happen quickly in the food and beverage business. One

thing is for sure if she continues her Gordan Ramsey tirades she will be out of business

in six months. Staff will quit, customers have many options on places to eat.

Ridiculous, you will be buying her another car in no time. Just take the keeks away for a week.  

I reported myself as the leaseholder/ housemaster. No issue at Soi 5 Immigration in Jomtien.

If people are staying 30 days or less in Thailand and have no need of immigration services

such as an extension I don't think there would be any issues. Half the hotels are not legal so I doubt the

illegal ones report their guests. Everone is afraid the government will link TM30 immigration reporting

to tax filing. Whether condo landlords or illegal unlicensed hotels.

Slow down but keep moving so he remains 10-15 feet behind. As he tires slow more.

Hopefully, he will get 2-3 kilometers of exercise. After 3-4 exercise runs he will get

tired of chasing. Or perhaps he may get lost and not find his way home. 

If it were COSTCO I would gladly pay a membership fee. Amway, not so prepared to buy in. 

I am not in Thailand at the moment but Songkran did cross my mind. I will not

be booking my return ticket date until it is over. Stay dry and safe.  

23 hours ago, Lamkyong said:

i think its now time to realize that DHL Thailand  is managed by Thais   who in turn are in bed  with the  relevant  authorities    

Thais don't have a monopoly on rip off charges. In Canada, the courier companies charge

about a 1,300 baht brokerage fee. If possible try to have things sent regular mail. Very

little chance of customs and no ripoff brokerage fees. My brother (pilot) just stops

at the courier cargo depot at the airport (Montreal) and fills in the forms himself. Takes

a few minutes, no brokerage fee. But they don't let you know your options unless you ask.

A very nice earner for them.

While I do understand your anxiety I am sure that the proper stamps in your

passport and your airline itinerary (which they can check) will more than 

suffice. Save your airline boarding passes as well if you still have them.

(I save mine until my frequent flyer points are credited) I think you are

overthinking the whole incident. 

Not sure, but I have encountered them at checkpoints where police are checking

drivers for impaired driving.  

53 minutes ago, scottiejohn said:

Australia Immigration do according to their Border Secuity Programmes.

Yes, but Australia is a member of the 5 eyes so I think they would have special access

to information that Thailand is unlikely to have access to. 

My passports say you cannot. I would never want to limit my options by traveling

with only one page available on a passport anyway. 

22 hours ago, amvet said:

Cardiologist said I needed exercise.  Sweat he said and that's a quote.  30 minutes of strenuous exercise every day.  He is a Western educated doctor.  Ever take a stress test?  The doctor prescribed exercise and Viagra.  No cheap imitation stuff.  Straight from the hospital pharmacy.

When I gained a kilo last year he told me to start dating younger women.  He does have a sense of humor (A Thai sense of humor).  

30 minutes of vigorous exercise is probably a better description of the intensity.

"Strenuous" is probably a little too much. A younger girlfriend sounds like the right

type of motivation for most men. Keep it up. 555