sezzo

One big question, how are the police with the farang driving.  It seems that there are a lot of the police shacks around since it is close to Laos.  Is that just my imagination.  Thanks again.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Having been driving around Ubon and surrounding provinces for the past 12 months on Australian, International Driving Permit and now a thai licence I can tell you that the majority of the time that I have been pulled over that when the police see the farang as the driver they either quickly check my license or passport or wave you through.

Even once when I was pulled over by the highway police for an obvious speeding infringement, once they saw the farang head sticking out of the window they just waved me on.

During Songkran when every village has a police checkpoint I was quickly waved through. Sometimes the police used the opportunity to use their limited english skills.

Just be friendly, smile and everything is fine.

As you walk out of the Aust embassy turn right and within 20 or 30 metres there is a restaurant with a driveway next to it. Go down this driveway (its actually the driveway to a hotel) and on the right hand side is a translation service. I used this one and everything was done in less than an hour.

From there we took the taxi accross to the Dept of Immigration and that process took about 3 or 4 hours.

We live in a small town and our amphur did not require any witnesses but Im sure every one has their own rules to go by. Once in the amphur it was all over in about 15 mins. The wife had to get a new ID card in her new name, which took about 10 mins.

While at the embassy you might like to fill out a stat dec stating where your residential address in Thailand. This is handy for when you go for your thai driving licence as well as was useful for applying for the extension to the Non Imm O visa.

Good luck

Same story in Ubon Ratchathani, people everywhere. Couldnt even get a ticket to park at Tesco.

Apparently the prince was in town for the uni graduations. Around midday the main drag was packed with cars and the police were everywhere.

You should be able to request an Owner's manual in English from the dealership that sold you, ask the rep who dealt with you to order it for you.

I had to wait approximately two months for my English version to come through for my Toyota Vigo pick up but the rep did let me have it for free so can't complain really

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I bought my cololrado in Feb this year and am still waiting for the instruction manual which I have asked for many times from the Ubon Ratchathani branch.

Good luck

I believe all he needs is a certificate of residence as can be issued by immigration after you have lived here 90 days rather than PR.  But have never tried so not sure.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Thanks Lopburi,

I will try that one. I will be in Ubon on friday and get it checked out.

Thanks to all the other posters for their input. Muchly appreciated

Sezzo

I have been a account holder of Bangkok Bank for the past 12 months and have been happy mostly with their service. I tried about 6 months ago to get access to internet banking and was told to wait and they would send me the password etc so I can use it. I already met their qualifying criteria in having a non - imm O visa.

Now 6 months have passed and I decided while in Bangkok to ask at a branch where the customer service people have better understanding of english than at my local branch. I was told in no uncertain terms that I cannot have internet banking facilities unless I have a work permit. I went blue in the face explaining that this was not necessary when I first applied but to no avail.

So I gave up on that one and asked to apply for a credit card to do a few transaction over the internet by credit card. Same story. Need a work permit. By this stage I was a bit agro and do keep the peace I walked out of the branch muttering things under my breath.

Got home today and checked the Bangkok bank website and lo and behold you do need a work permit OR a certificate of residence.

My question, finally, is what constitutes a certificate of residence. Is it the same stat dec that I made at the embassy and got translated prior to my wedding or is it something completely different.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Sounds a bit suss

Im no expert either but I know that the trees that we have bought have been grown from seed. They are grown to a certain size then cut about 6 in above the ground. They then have a small section of bark taken off and this area is then wrapped in plastic. This area is where the new shoot will grow from. This forms the new trunk for the tree and also makes the tree productive.

Maybe the article may have meant that the trees have been grown directly from seed and not cut and treated as described above.

We bought all our trees through a supplier down at Surat Thani and brought them up as bare root stock to Ubon, put them in plastic tubes, watered them till they took off, then replanted them in the ground. They are now booming with the latest wet season and some good fertilizing.

Like someone else in this topic mentioned, MarcoH has lived in Ubon for about 8 years and is quite knowledgeable on the place. He has helped me out heaps over the past 12 months with the place.

I know for a fact that he is in the states until sunday arvo when he arrives back in Ubon so expect a reply early next week.

Ubon - Great Place

We certainly cant complain about the amount of rain that we have had in our small part in upper Ubon. For the past 2 months it has varied from absolute downpours to sporadic showers but I know that all the farmers surrounding our village and our farm are more than happy with what we have received.

I visited Khorat in early June and was quite jealous as they seemed to have had heaps of rain compared to us. Now it appears the tables have turned. Its unfortunate for many but we dont have any power or control over the weather.

I hope everybody gets their crops in and they all have a bumper harvest.

Good luck to you all.

[and ur if ur batting is like ur fence sitting, then u wouldnt make it on the park.....

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Look mate; I've got to do a bit of fence sitting. I run a Pom/Ozzie Pub.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Martin,

So I just figured by your last post here why you have invited me down for the weekend. Trying to boost your aussie numbers so you can qualify for a grant from the fictitious aussie govt.

See you on the 3rd mate,

Sezzo

Very happy digger here. The wife was issued her tourist visa yesterday. The process was a lot easier than I thought it would have been. On submission of the application we were in and out in about 15 mins. We had a 6 working day wait before we got the notification that the passport was ready for pick up. We were in and out of the visa application centre in about 20 mins on picking up the yellow envelope. (with huge smiles on our faces)

I must confess that the process was probably made easier because we are married and her passport and ID are both in her married name. We will now start the planning process for her holiday in Aus towards the end of the year.

Good luck to all future applicants for the same visa. I hope it goes smoothly like ours did.

I am considering moving to Ubon in the next year.  I have a GF there who makes good money, has a house and 2 cars.  I have visited a few times and like the people.  I am from the US but used to a slower paced lifestyle.  Money is really not an issue.  My question is what is there to do in Ubon.  Yeah i know about the lotus, big C, no movies in English.  I know where to play golf, but have never played on the military course there.  Anyone live in Ubon and have the 411 on what it is like there?  Thanks in advance for the help.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Mate,

My advice to you is to try it out for a few months. Before you get over here drop a line to a few of us locals and we will surely make sure you enjoy yourself. Also will increase our database of farangs in the area.

If you dont like it you can always move on but the longer you stay here and the more people you meet the better the place gets. Just got back from a week in Bangkok and was ever so glad to get back to the quiet life.

Enjoy

We went through this process in May this year.

When we registered the marriage at the local amphur they actually made her get the new ID card when we were there.  Then when we went to the office to change the passport we showed them the marriage certificate and as they had all the info on the new id (must be computer linked) it was a very quick walk around the various parts of the passport office.

We were in and out in 15 mins and the new passport was delivered by mail about 3 days later.

Not sure if the same thing would happen now with the issuing of the new passports.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Same happened for us sezzo, except they shouldn't have made you change her ID card as it is optional as to wether she wants to change her surname to yours, isn't it?

MRBoJ

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Didnt realise that u had a choice. But hopefully it will work in our favour as we are applying for a tourist visa and my thinking is that it would add weight to our favour if it is in her married name.

Got the fingers crossed

We went through this process in May this year.

When we registered the marriage at the local amphur they actually made her get the new ID card when we were there. Then when we went to the office to change the passport we showed them the marriage certificate and as they had all the info on the new id (must be computer linked) it was a very quick walk around the various parts of the passport office.

We were in and out in 15 mins and the new passport was delivered by mail about 3 days later.

Not sure if the same thing would happen now with the issuing of the new passports.

Having just submitted an application for a tourist visa for my wife last week, I am trying to understand why you need to get a "certified true copy" for your documents. I just read your post and now the panic alarms were ringing so I went back through the application form as well as the information sheet that is provided by the Visa Application service and I can not find anything about the requirement to have the documents verified as true copies.

There is a passage in their information sheet which reads "(please provide originals with a set of clear copies, originals will be returned to you after certification of copies)". This I read to say that the embassy will return the originals once they have checked to see that the copies are the same as the originals.

I hope that I am right as we have now gone over their 3 - 5 working day time period and no passport or visa is forthcoming.

Cons: That's if you make it out of the town. It is a nightmare to get in,out,and navigate around.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Martin,

Horses for courses mate. The couple of times that I have driven thru Surin I have been completely bamboozled (Mind you it might have been something to do with the amount of grog I drank at a certain establishment). Driving around Ubon is a piece of cake once youve been there a few times.

I just had my extension for my Non-Imm O visa approved last week and was given the proforma to be used for my 90 day reporting. There was no mention of actual physical reporting. I was told when I send this proforma in they will send receipt and a new proforma.

I have a Bangkok bank "Visa Electron" debit card which I understood could be used to pay for purchases over the internet or where a credit card, in particular, a visa card is asked for.

I am trying to book a hotel room over the internet on one of the many accomodation booking services and have been unable to due to the fact that they only acce[t credit cards. As there is a sizeable discount using the internet booking service, I really would like to use this facility without the need to get a credit card. (Better to use my money than pay to use the banks).

Does anyone out there know of a booking service on the internet that takes debit cards.

Thanks in advance

Mukdahan is a 3-4 hour drive

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Vern,

I live in khemarat which is only about 1 1/4 hours drive from Big C and Mukdahan is about 45 mins from me. So this trip could easily be done in about 2 hours.

Last year I went across to Savanakhet to get a new Tourist visa and was told by the guys there that next time I come over to apply for a Non - Imm O. I assumed by this that they would be happy to issue me one of those. Not sure about the Non - Imm B.

I do know that if you get to the consulate before midday and have the application in you will receive the new visa around 2.30 pm.

Hope this has helped a bit

Phuket Town:

sezzo - Frienbship beach is quite nice and well priced and not overly busy. Starr the owner is a great bloke and the place is well priced at about 1000 per night.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Thanks mate,

Actually that is were we are staying and the price of 1200 baht per night is excellant when you consider the facilities are absolutely brand new and in perfect condition. The family was very pleasantly surprised with what we are staying in.

I highly recommend the Friendship Beach Resort to anybody who wants good room, great pool over looking the beach and good friendly service.

Actually the Rawai area seems busier than Patong area and there is a lot more bars,cafes and restaurants since last time I was here. A much better alternative to the more popular places.

Thanks to all that posted info or advise. This has made our holiday.

Thanks guys for all the input.

Start the trip down there today and will get there probably on monday. I will moe than likely do a drive around the Rawai/Naiharn area and check out the prices but will more than likely be stopping around the Friedship Beach area.

Once again many thanks and will let you know how I went.

There are a few Satellite shops that will install a system where you have a moveable dish and pick up chanells from various satellites. Prices start at about 15000 baht and some advertise that you can pick up more than 100 chanells.

There is one shop on Third Rd. near Pattaya Klang just 100 metres or so down towards Pattaya Tai on the beach side of the road,and another in the Duck Place market complex next to Big C South Pattaya.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Mark,

What happened to the Sir Les Patterson avatar

Nikita bar/ restaurant at Rawai on the beachfront is a lovely spot for lunch also.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I have had many a beer and meal at Nikita's. Very nice place, just wondering if it is still there after boxing day. Very peaceful sitting under the trees looking out to sea sipping on a nice cold chang.

When sydney won the games they changed some pretty crappy parts of sydney into showpieces. Hopefully the same can be done for London.

All you have to worry about now is the fickly english weather to make sure it is a success.

Good luck

There is a bar/restaurant on the Mekong that a few of us frequent and it uses a PC with a big screen on the wall as a karaoke machine.

Seems to work well although when they start up we generally leave.

Nothing worse than hearing thais who think they can sing belting out their favourite songs. Almost as bad as the philipinos, except without the tears.