Thanks everyone!!! 

3 minutes ago, ubonjoe said:

Immigration is open 24 hours a day at Don Mueang.

He should allow a extra 30 minutes after checking in for his flight to clear immigration.

Thanks ubonjoe!

Thanks for mostly helpful posts! He's going to fly to Cambodia and pay the overstay at the airport. Does anyone know if it's ok to do that at Don Muang Airport and how early immigration is there(can you call the airport and ask them) since I've heard you need to give them extra time to process it. There's a 6:30am flight that's the cheapest....

2 hours ago, sanmyintmaung said:

I believe he will need to show up at the airport with both old and new passport so that Airport Immigration can calculate the amount of fine he has to pay before allowing him to leave the country.

What if it was lost/stolen the old passport so only has the new? 

A friend of mine has a several year overstay(for what I consider valid reasons, all negative commenters save your vitriol for Trumps' legal team) and he needs to get a new passport before leaving the country. My question is; should he go to Thai Immigration with the new passport and tell them about the overstay or just show up at the airport and present the new passport and say the old one was lost? I'm wondering if Immigration would want to detain him right then and there but also if he showed up at the airport with a new passport even though he's ready and willing to pay the fine would they let him leave then?

Thank you for your(helpful) input! 

23 hours ago, spidermike007 said:

 

Spanish food is incredibly diverse these days. Some of the top rated restaurants in the world are now located in Spain. Not like the old days. And the wine. It can be sublime. And reasonable. People are cool, though it helps alot if you speak spanish. Spain is totally different than Mexico. Decades ago Mexico used to be really nice. Now it is far more expensive than it used to be, and the security issues are not worth it, in my opinion. Spain is fairly safe. Quite scenic. It can be on the conservative side (alot of conventionally minded people) But, expensive like the rest of Europe, unfortunately. 

Damn, you ruined it at the end there...expensive? I thought Spain was supposed to be quite reasonable. How about Portugal then? Thanks for your input!

17 hours ago, spidermike007 said:

Personally, I have no alternative to Thailand, that comes even close. For me, Burma would be almost as bad as the Philippines. Never gonna happen. Really poor infrastructure, military is way worse than here, genocidal government, food not as good, difficult to travel, as most hotels in smaller cities will not and cannot accept foreigners as guests, etc, etc. Not even close. The PI sucks. The entire country feels like Tijuana. Food is some of the worst in the world, as the PI people do not have the culinary gene, like the Thai people. Security is horrendous. Always looking over your shoulder. The only reason to be in the PI is the women. And the english skills too. Been to Vietnam a few times. Find alot of the people there to be like cold fish. Just not appealing at all. 

 

So, where else? If I was wealthy, I would probably spend four months of the year here, two months in the US, three months in Spain, and three months elsewhere, traveling around. 

Thanks for the post, can you tell me a bit about Spain? Been to Mexico many times but never Spain, I wonder about the food? Love Mexican food but Tappas...?

Overstay scam:  there was a post not long ago titled: 

Clear a long overstay!?

<removed>

This guy claimed to have cleared a 12 year overstay with a new passport. I contacted him in order to get information for a friend and he put me in touch with someone else who claimed to have a connection in immigration. Then he asked me to email him a photo of my passport so he could "check it out" and see if it was blacklisted already. When I declined he got very aggressive and when I stopped responding to his texts he threatened me. I believe they are running a scam where they try to get ahold of overstayer's passports and then threaten to turn it over to immigration unless money is paid. I tried to report this and that members id to thaivisa but they didn't seem too interested. 

On 6/29/2018 at 1:39 PM, ubonjoe said:

You have to go to immigration to have your permit to stay stamp reinstated in the new passport.

Thanks for your reply! And what if you need to fly out right away for an appointment? 

What if your passport was stolen and you have a new one? 

4 hours ago, Suradit69 said:

Wow.Talk about the pot calling the kettle a bubble dweller.

 

Americans are probably among the most self-absorbed, insular people on the planet. I wonder how many Americans who've chosen to live in Thailand know anything of Thai language, culture or history or, for that matter, anything about North American history beyond a few headline events that were explained to them by Fox News using language suitable to 3rd graders.

 

I doubt most Americans could find Syria or Thailand on a map and a large percentage couldn't find the US.

 

https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/how-much-us-history-do-americans-actually-know-less-you-think-180955431/

 

 

 

Americans are also among the most generous, willing to extend a helping hand people in the world. When you see someone being flown on a private plane for a lifesaving medical procedure it's almost always an American who made it happen. I'm allowed to point out our many flaws because I'm from there(and I know), you like most critics only see the flaws and point them out because it makes you feel better about yourself. 

I think Jak said it best. Some balance(as usual in life) would be best. Ignoring everything outside your immediate circle is not only boring it can also be dangerous but to stick your nose into everyone else's business and even interfere, like my home country the US loves to do is also dangerous...and foolish.

The USA has over 800 military installations in countries all over the world, most Americans don't know this and don't seem to care when they hear it and now we have a clown for president that can't read or speak English. We definitely need to learn how to take care of our own problems and leave others alone more.  

20 hours ago, jak2002003 said:

A happy middle ground would be the best option.

 

To care nothing for anything that does not immediately concern oneself is not just selfish.. its dangerous in ignorant.  This is why so few people here stand up to corruption, crime etc.  If people here did not ignore the problems then there is scope for change and improvement in the future for society, not just an individual.

 

On the other hand, to get overly involved, distressed, stressed and argumentative about issues that don't directly affect us is equally not a good thing.  It is a waste of energy, which would be better spent on doing things to actually improve situations we have some (no matter how small) control over. Lurching from one world disaster, political or social problem to the next, getting into heated arguments, fights and negatively impacting ones life and family, over issues we have realistically not control over is pointless.  

 

On 2/27/2018 at 8:32 AM, tgeezer said:

I did that many years ago by train, we left Thailand and entered Malaysia from the railway platform.  There was no return train in the offing so we re-entered Thailand by a footbridge where locals enjoy free movement accross the border.  The problem was that we needed to take a taxi for quite a long drive to a border post to get a stamp back into Thailand.    

 

So did you go through Thai immigration or just cross into Malaysia at the station?

1 hour ago, bubba45 said:

This might not be exactly the white tuna you're looking for, but if you've not tried this brand, give it a shot.  I eat a good bit of tuna, and I buy this one.  They have in brine, water, oil, etc.  I buy them all.  But note the difference in 'tuna steak' and I think the other is 'tuna sandwich'.  The steak is whole, not all crushed up pieces.  I can't recall seeing American brands here.

Oh, and I always add a little Kraft mayo - I'm on that mayo bandwagon, too.

 

I used to buy Sealect but found it a bit fishy last year and switched to Nautilus in Spring Water and like it better.

1 hour ago, gbob said:

Miracle Whip

I love Miracle Whip over mayo but haven't seen it in a while! Also love Lipton Onion Soup mix for making potato chip dip. 

I know the situation in Thailand is terrible but honestly you make Europe sound like a big-brother police state that scares me even more than the Thai drivers! 

10 hours ago, Thian said:

In Europe there are undercover cops in cars who also have videocams at all sides. If you drive too close to another car or stay on the fast lane when the slow lane is empty they will give you a huge fine...for speeding they have camera's littery everywhere, the ticket will come to your home. They also use cars with computerequipment who can read licenseplates and check if the car is insured or checked for safety yearly.

 

They also register the licenseplate and do it again after 50 km or so, they then calculate the travelled speed over that distance and will send a fine if necessary.

 

There's no way to do drive like a Thai in Europe, you'll get stopped by police within 10 minutes...and there's no way to bribe them at all. When they stop you for an offence they also check the whole car if all is working properly, if not more fines are written.

 

What you see on the Thai roads every day is unbelievable for the Europeans. It can be a primetime tv=show for them to watch Thai traffic.

 

I really can't understand why Thailand let this all happen, they do have police but they won't do their job...and even a big general can't fix that.

Soon the whole world will make jokes about driving like a Thai...and they totally deserve it.

 

On 1/26/2018 at 7:14 PM, Dustdevil said:

Unfortunately a perusal of the front page reveals no prestige shows such as Ray Donovan or Berlin Station from the premium channels and streaming services. The shows are all commercial network type

17 hours ago, Dustdevil said:

Unfortunately a perusal of the front page reveals no prestige shows such as Ray Donovan or Berlin Station from the premium channels and streaming services. The shows are all commercial network type

Incorrect; maybe you didn't see them on the front page where you looked but they have those shows (as I've watched them regularly and right after they aired) and EVERY top show including Game of Thrones, Walking Dead, Vikings, the Marvel Shows and new ones like Hard Sun and Burden of Truth.

Depending on what you want to watch, this is one of the best free internet sites for USA TV shows:  http://www.watchepisodeseries.com/

Try this site, great for watching all types of sports:  http://www.usagoals.net/

17 hours ago, Thian said:

People sure care and move to the subs away from the main roads in a nice moobaan with loads of green.

 

And sure something can be done, in China they decided that only cars with an even number on their licenseplate can drive on one day and the other day the uneven numbers are allowed to drive. That will sure work!

 

Also in China they use electric motocycles ONLY in certain cities....also electric cars don't pollute bad air in a city.

 

At places like Saphan Kwai bts the air is really bad, why you think nobody cares? Why do the streetvendors there wear facemasks ALL DAYS you think?

Even/odd license plates do NOT work! How are you supposed to get to work? They tried that in Athens and people just got 2 cars, one with even - one with odd, great solution!