falangUK

6 hours ago, SMIAI said:

Forget about the tall pot and get a slow cooker for the chopped up carcass, to get the bones meltingly soft for the pups.

Bonus is that you don't need to attend to the pot at all. Add meat, water etc and then leave it.

Cook any rice separately.

 

https://shopee.co.th/product/1170288030/25561533769 Large enough for around 4kg of meat.

 

Thanks, I might try this. I'm not too keen on Otto—they don’t seem to last long. Have you used this one or something similar that’s better?

On 4/15/2025 at 9:04 AM, BritManToo said:

Nope it's just you and Thailand.

Come here for 60 days, then Vietnam for 45 days, off to Malaysia for 90 days then the Philippines for 30 days and there will be no problems.

 

Most countries don't want long term tourists with little money, you just gotta move around a little.

 

Two week tourists have no problem, not because they're rich, but because they only stay two weeks!

What would someone typically do for these durations? Where would they stay? I'm genuinely seeking ideas. Vietnam for 45 days followed by Malaysia for 90 days.
 

For context, I find Malaysia (KL) less interesting and struggle to stay beyond 2 weeks, Penang is manageable for about 2 weeks. In Vietnam, places like Da Nang are good for up to 2 weeks. Similarly, Bali is fine for about 2 weeks before I get itchy feet, although I can handle up to 2 months there if i push it.

On 5/4/2025 at 10:36 PM, BrandonJT said:

Yes, TVC serivces DMK, BKK and Phuket.  They've previously shared this link with me for registering for their service.

 

https://asq.in.th/thailand-fasttrack

Thank you very much indeed! 

10 hours ago, scubascuba3 said:

Unless the from claim below is misleading

Screenshots attached — these are the actual rates I got when I tested:

Yolla call rates from Thailand to UK (tested):

* 0330 numbers: 5p/min
* Landlines (e.g. 01254): 9p/min
* 0845 numbers: 28p/min

Unless the *"from"* price shown in the app is misleading, these are the real charges I was billed.

Why don’t you just punch in a few numbers yourself — 0330, 01254, 0845 — since you already have the app installed? It’ll show you the current rates instantly.
 

17 hours ago, topt said:

Did you miss off a decimal point? That seems dearer than using a Thai sim with one of the cheaper rates they have - or am I missing something.

Skype to most landlines in the UK was less than 1p per minute?

 I tested with DTAC (Thai SIM) and it was a lot more expensive than Yolla — especially for UK landlines and 0330 numbers. I don’t have the exact figures, but it definitely wasn’t anywhere near 5p or 9p per minute.

Can you share the Thai SIM rates and which network you’re using? Would be useful to compare.

Tested Yolla as a quick replacement. Works fine — not perfect, but decent.

Pros:

* Clear call quality
* 0330 numbers: 5p/min
* UK landlines (e.g. 01254): 9p/min

** I was able to add my UK mobile number in the Yolla settings, so it shows up as the caller ID when I make calls. That’s really useful for things like contacting banks or services that recognise your number.
* Easy to top up and use
* Top up $4 and get $3 extra with a referral link
 

Cons:

* More expensive than Skype overall
* 0845 numbers: 28p/min — much higher than what Skype charged

I didn’t use the referral myself, but happy to share mine if anyone wants it 
I’m guessing we’re not allowed to post referral links here, but happy to DM it if anyone wants.
 

12 hours ago, manoi said:

Thai Visa Centre 4000B. Perfect Service...officer stamps you in and bye bye.

Thanks a lot—just to confirm, this is for a safe entry into Bangkok (BKK/DMK), right? Are they the same as tvc_co_th online? Appreciate it again.

Hello everyone,

I’m looking for a tall cooking pot that works on an induction cooker—something suitable for making big batches of soup, rice, etc., for 13 dogs. Nothing too fancy, just a decent, reasonably priced one as this is more of a test run. Idea is to start cooking some healthy, balanced meals for the pups at home (carbs, protein, fat, bit of fibre).

Any suggestions on where I might buy one online or around Chiang Mai?

Cheers in advance!

On 5/2/2025 at 3:16 AM, Rob Browder said:

You want me to do the google-search on this site for you?   Choose to believe what you want - I've been reading such reports here for years - since before the name of the site changed.

 

And, no, as in the victim tried to present the stated requirements for entry (20K Baht, hotel-booking, flight-out), and the IO literally waived it away - as in waived their hand  "shoo shooo." 

Then, they told the person they were not allowing them to enter, because they "come too much" - and then, stamped a different reason (lie) in their passport as the "official" reason for denying entry - "not having money" - after refusing to look at / count the money presented.

Rob’s completely right. Even with 20K THB, onward flight, and hotel booking, people still get denied—I saw it myself at Sadao. The process was dodgy but easy to "fix." There was this guy—not an immigration officer—just casually walking in and out of the Thai-Malay border post, offering to “help” people who got rejected. Looked like he was familiar with the officers too—they were joking around with him.

On 4/29/2025 at 6:11 PM, GammaGlobulin said:

 

Belize reefs

Naples FLA

Guam

HK

Key West

Other places, and all very safe...except for Belize....

Belize is not a very safe city.

 

 

Very low cost there, though.

Cheaper than Thailand.

And, even more beautiful.

 

My old ex-chancellor Lord Ashcroft used to spend loads of time there—so you're saying it's actually cheaper than Thailand? Is that really the case? Sorry for hijacking the thread! Could you maybe go into more detail on the safety issues? Always fancied spending some time in that part of the world.

On 4/29/2025 at 4:44 PM, DrJack54 said:

Once stamped in for 60 days the onward flight is irrelevant and you would be able to apply for 30 day extension. 

The 30 days would start from expiry of the 60 day visa exempt entry

Thanks a lot, just double-checking—this is what I figured from your earlier replies across a few threads. So nothing gets logged into their fancy biometric system tying me to the onward flight? It’s a legit ticket, still got it, just looking to enjoy a few extra weeks here instead.

On 4/29/2025 at 5:43 PM, Jerzy Swirski said:

Her name is Natalie.

I am sure she will be interested in you, providing you are worth more than her current hubby.

so she's definitely the other "brother" then?

On 12/30/2024 at 7:23 PM, DrJack54 said:

It will make headlines if that occurs.

Can't imagine that would happen in any situation. 

Anyone with a visa exempt entry and is entitled to 30 day extension.

Sorry if this is unrelated... If they stamp you in with a 60-day visa exemption, can they still require you to leave on the date of your onward flight, say in 3 weeks? There's nothing written in the passport except the standard 60-day visa exemption stamp, but they verbally told you to leave on that day. Also, they kept the form I filled out for the interview with the immigration officer, which had my departure date and flight details.

44 minutes ago, Rob Browder said:

Only certain types are restricted to "only your passport country" - the Multiple-Entry Tourist Visas and "Non-OA" are among those.   The 5-year DTV, single-entry Tourist-Visas, Non-Ed, and Non-O based on Retirement or Marriage - all can be obtained in other countries. 

Thank you very much. So, I can apply for a SETV while in Thailand, or do I have to leave the country? I’m guessing the latter, but it’s good news since I won’t have to go back to the UK.

44 minutes ago, Rob Browder said:

Only certain types are restricted to "only your passport country" - the Multiple-Entry Tourist Visas and "Non-OA" are among those.   The 5-year DTV, single-entry Tourist-Visas, Non-Ed, and Non-O based on Retirement or Marriage - all can be obtained in other countries. 

Thank you very much. So, I can apply for a SETV while in Thailand, or do I have to leave the country? I’m guessing the latter, but it’s good news since I won’t have to go back to the UK.

1 hour ago, Will B Good said:

Free market economy....as long as there is true competition, the price for hotels and flights is the price for hotels and flights.

 

Dual pricing.....usually coppers.....don't go or get over it.

 

Cannabis was a huge mistake.

 

Thailand and litter go hand in hand......that will require a generational scale change in education and attitudes.

Most of the hotels are sitting empty and the flights are nearly half full.

On 4/27/2025 at 10:31 AM, frank83628 said:

And 25yrs ago the THB - GBP used to be 72!!

 

I used to rent a basic wooden bungalow for 3k a month, now they're 12k, concrete, with aircon, pool, intenet and huge TV..... arghhh why are they not still 3k... rip off Thailand!!

 

Today, the British pound isn’t even worth 44.75 baht — quite something, really, given all the issues the country’s facing. Amazing how the baht’s managed to stay so strong through it all.

21 minutes ago, Liverpool Lou said:

Nonsense.  The reality is that millions of foreigners are coming into Thailand; remember, this is not the high season for visitors.

Oh, absolutely—because nothing says “welcome” like being charged double for the same mango sticky rice, or being enveloped in a cloud of cannabis while navigating an outdated bureaucracy. If you're keen to delve deeper into the myriad reasons why Thailand's tourism charm is waning, here's a rather enlightening read 

4 minutes ago, sqwakvfr said:

That sound like "Thai Logic" to me? 

That's because it is 🤣

7 hours ago, BritManToo said:

But why the desperate need to come to Thailand?

Vietnam 45 days

Malaysia 90 days

Philippines 30 days, but can stay 3 years.

 

If I didn't have a Thai family, I probably wouldn't be here.

 

not keen to come back to Thailand at all, except for the pups and a bit for TGF

8 hours ago, impulse said:

 

Though the OP is a good heads up, I'd suggest that someone without 14 years of experience needn't worry so much.  There's people reading in that are now unnecessarily worried about their 2nd or 3rd ever entry. 

 

And even with 14 years of entering Thailand, the OP was still allowed in on visa exempt after filling in some paperwork and answering some questions.  Which is a good cautionary tale to have your documents and cash lined up. 

 

 

one should definitely worry about the 2nd entry if there’s no significant break between the previous visa exemption + extension and the new entry with visa exemption, especially since this happened at an easy entry point like Chiang Mai

11 hours ago, BrandonJT said:

You can still get 60+30 even if they change it. Just apply for a tourist visa online through the e-visa system before your trip. Takes all of 5 minutes.

always assumed you had to be in your home country to apply for a Thai visa online

15 hours ago, NorthernRyland said:

I forget but you may be right, however they have been known to clamp down on air travel if there is a long history. Were you doing the visa exempts more than twice a year for multiple years? That may have been the reason. I don't think you can get away with that anymore and Chiang Mai isn't what it used to be, they're getting inundated by people too and it's change a lot over the recent years in particular.

more immigration officers than aliens trying to enter CNX