massagehound

I tried to google for those, not much luck, but maybe like this ?

http://members.virtu...m/m/p/m/147cf7/

Can't claim to have seen those, or at least I haven't noticed.

EDIT: Ha! Now that I think of it, there's one very, very faded one over the entrance of my mother-in-laws house. I'm probably too used to such to notice anymore. But I'll keep my eyes open next time I go to a mom&pop shop.

Yeah, that's them! The first picture is super-swanky. I think they're just showing off

The second photo is pretty much exactly how I remembered most of them looking.

Thanks again guys

Well, I guess not most businesses then .. I don't think I've ever seen a gold lettered Sanskrit message inside a business. Pictures of monks and kings, car upholsteries smeared with markers, all sorts of amulets and the usual lot, sure. Where in Thailand was this ?

EDIT: right, Chiang Mai forum. Isn't all that clear when using the app. Been there, but didn't notice.Is it a northern thing then ?

Sorry Dr. Tuner, no photos I'm afraid. It was Chiang Mai, so possibly a northern thing.

It's not part of the shop signage, just painted onto the wall next to the door, or above the door, that kind of thing.

bdw seems to know what's going on with it That sounds about right based on what I'd pieced together!

Thanks guys!

Hi, so... this might be a really odd question, but...

What is the Thai writing that you see on the walls of most businesses? They look like symbols, but I have been told it is an old language?

I think it is some kind of a blessing maybe? To bring good fortune to the business?

When I was in Thailand last year a Thai girl tried to explain it, but there was a bit of a language barrier - her English was much better than my Thai

If anyone could explain what it is, who does it, when do they do it etc. I'd love to know

Thanks!

@ massagehound,

You don't need a visa of any kind - you're not in Thailand long enough to warrant one. A visa-exempt stamp (which is not a visa at all, that's what the 'exempt' bit refers to) is all that you require. moe666 means well but is getting muddled with other visa requirements applicable only to expats on long term visas, not tourists.

When you arrive at BKK from UK, you will get a visa-exempt stamp in your passport, from immigration, at no charge (except queueing). That is good for a maximum of 30 days.

When you return, by air, from Cambo to BKK, you will get another 30 days - enough to last you until the flight back to UK. Just keep your onward flight itineraries readily to hand. Get an e-visa for Cambo when in Thailand. A quick search for that on these forums will tell you the right way to go about it.

Trust me, you don't need a visa for Thailand!

There, you've just saved £28 (or whatever) towards the cost of your trip.

If you haven't been to Cambo before, make sure you pack a good stack of pristine dollar bills, no torn or worn notes. One's, five and tens are the most useful.

Have fun.

Thanks again. That made it super-clear for me

No need for a visa! Excellent stuff!!

Cheers everyone

No you just go thru imigration and you will get 30 days stamped into your passport. This is not a visa but a permission to stay on arrival 30days when you arrive by air and 15 by a land border crossing. If you have a tourist visa and make the trip during the 60 days to keep the visa active when you return to Thailand you would get a re-entry permit before leaveing at the airport or a immigration office 1000baht single 3,800 for multiply. The re-entry permit is good until the visa expires.

Thanks Moe, so if I was to do it that way, I would have a tourist visa before I go, and before flying to Cambodia I would get a re-entry permit?

Hmmm, I'm not sure which is more sensible now

Cheers!

If the OP is not going to be in Thailand for more than 30 days before the trip to Cambodia, then surely he doesn't require a tourist visa at all - just evidence of an onward flight(s) out of the country?

This is true, my arrival in Thailand and departure are around 28 days, so maybe only about 10 or so days in Thailand before crossing into Cambodia. My flights into Thailand and out again are already booked, so I have that evidence.

Is visa application on arrival in Bangkok not a pain compared to doing it before hand?

Thank you all

You will need a Visa to enter Cambodia.

When you fly back to Thailand from Cambodia you will get a 30 day permision to stay.

Do I need to apply for a Cambodian visa before arrival, or is it standard to do that at the airport? Only planning on staying 3 days.

Many thanks

edit**

I see you can apply for an e-visa for Cambodia. I'll probably go that route as it should make things a little easier

Hi,

I had a search of the forums and couldn't find what I needed... so apologies if it is there already!

Myself and my partner (British passports) are going to Thailand in October, so will apply for a tourist visa soon.

I was in Thailand last October also, so my visa is still in my passport from that trip.

Is there any problems with flying into Cambodia during our trip, and then flying back into Thailand? It is simply a sightseeing trip, not a visa run or anything like that.

Our flights are booked around 30 days apart, so will apply for 60 day tourist visa to be sure.

My last trip I was in Thailand for around 38 days, and didn't leave Thailand for the duration, so I just need to be certain that I don't need a different visa this time.

Many thanks in advance

Is there anywhere else to go and see it without being right there? It's been a very, very long day already, so the thought of 3 hours getting home just doesn't appeal

Sorry for having to ask, but the Charoen Muang Road, on the east side of the river - does anyone know how bad it is there? I don't know the area at all, so I'm finding it hard to see if it's accessible.

Any help appreciated as always

I walked along it at 3pm - from Bumregrad to the bridge - quite OK.

Thanks so much Coreyp2!

Sorry for having to ask, but the Charoen Muang Road, on the east side of the river - does anyone know how bad it is there? I don't know the area at all, so I'm finding it hard to see if it's accessible.

Any help appreciated as always

Do not tell your new best friend what you are doing, and donot spread on the internet. Loose lips sinks ships

It is 100% legal to study whilst on a Tourist Visa.

Thanks again everyone! I feel much more confident now

I had my doubts because of horror stories from travelers going to the US and Australia with wrong visas, and literally getting turned away upon arrival... grim...

Cheers!

We frequently have students studying Thai language on a Tourist Visa. I don't see how massage would be any different.

Thank you

Hello!

I was told I only need a tourist visa to come to Thailand and study Thai Massage for 5 weeks... is this true?

It seems wrong because the visa application strongly words that a 60 day single entry tourist visa is only for tourism - but at the same time it's for 5 weeks, it's not that I'll be studying full time.

Can anyone advise me which is best? The massage school told me I only need a tourist visa - but I'd just like some clarification! I can't really afford to get kicked out

Many thanks!

Fast track only makes sense on international flight in and out of Bangkok, since there is no passport control for domestic flights.

Yermanee :jap:

Thanks Yermanee!! See, that's something I didn't even know... I'm quite new to the whole flying business

In my case, for flying out of BKK, my flight is so late, I won't have much else to do, so I'll just be at the airport ridiculously early anyways! I don't think fast tracking that flight would be worth the money.

In my opinion fast track London - Bkk only. It's worth the money if you have the spare cash.

Thanks ShopBoy!

When I am flying back from BKK - London, do I need to get to the airport insanely early in case there will be a hold up, or do I just need to be there a couple of hours before they close check in? My flight isn't until 00.45, so it's a fairly late flight

I really have no idea

So sorry for starting a new thread, but the fast track BKK thing is a wholly new concept for me, and I really need to find out more about when it should be used.

If I'm flying into BKK from London, I'm planning on using fast track - but when I'm flying BKK to CNX, I wouldn't really need to use it would I? Likewise, I was planning on using fast track when traveling BKK - London, but not CNX - BKK.

I know it probably seems like a silly question, but I've if it's worth the money, or if it is, when it should be used. I have never been to Thailand before (or flown so far on my own before), so I thought fast tracking might alleviate a little of the stress as I tend to be very anxious about situations like that.

Hope that makes sense, and I'd love any help people can offer

Many thanks!

Thanks nowork, I had a quick look at the Bupa site, but I think I'd be better off getting a worldwide multi-trip policy.

Somehow from that link I ended up looking at an insurance price comparison chart, and AA were on it. They seem to be fairly competitive with the quote that I had, so I'll check that one out in more detail

Thanks!

EDIT: seems AA insurance use AXA as the underwriters, so it doesn't look like it would be any cheaper / better a policy.

WorldNomads seems to be quite popular and gets good feedback. Here is link 4 you: http://upeka.net/?page_id=341

Cheers for that. I'd had a look at them before, and I did get a quote just now. It seems very expensive compared to other insurers in Ireland.

I think I've found the one that best suits me, so in case it's of any use to anyone else I think AXA travel insurance ticks all the boxes I need It comes in quite cheap too which is odd as it seems like a good policy, and they are a very reputable company!

I haven't bought yet, so any other tips are still appreciated

Hi, I tried searching the forum, but couldn't find what I was looking for.

I'm normally resident in the Republic of Ireland, and am looking for travel insurance, but I have no idea who to go for. I've never had insurance before.

The quotes I've been getting are all around the same, but reading the policies... I couldn't tell if they're good or bad!

Does anyone have an insurer they'd recommend? Ideally I'd like an insurer that doesn't care if I start my trip in the UK or Ireland as I'll probably travel from both over the next 12 months.

I hope someone can help

Cheers!

Hi! Thanks for all the replies...

I'm traveling from Dublin - London - BKK - Chiang Mai.

If I thought I'd be spending any time on a river, or in the countryside I would be more likely to go for it, but I really don't think it's necessary at all. I think the vaccine is about £55, but more importantly it's another vaccine going into my system that doesn't seem necessary!

Cheers

Hi,

Just wondering if there's any need for me to get a yellow fever vaccine if I'm a UK citizen. I've never been to any of the risk countries before, but the travel clinic gave me a prescription for the vaccine.

I'd really rather not pay for / take a vaccine that I really don't need...if that's the case

Any advice would be really great!

Hello, several people have asked but there has been no clear reply, how can you buy the vouchers only without using a service? Thanks

Quite a few people are asking the same question about buying just the cards.

I emailed ThaiFastTrack.com and asked. Quoted directly from their reply....

"Or if you like to purchase only fast track ticket without the representative assist you at the airport, we will send the fast track ticket to you by mail after you make the payment. You will use ticket pass through the fast track line by yourself."

I believe the ticket only costs 800Baht.

Hope that helps

What about Abdominal Detox Massage, also know as Chi Nei Tsang.

Great suggestion! I hadn't thought of that, and it is available in Chiang Mai! It fits perfectly with the direction I want to take my studies.

Thanks so much for a helpful, relevant response

cnxnicolas - thanks for giving your opinion. I used to think all 'alternative' solutions were BS, but I have found certain techniques that help, and others that do nothing. There are indeed many charlatans, but it does no harm if I approach subjects as a skeptic and find something beneficial in it.

Oh, ok, I'm not messing, it's a Traditional Chinese Medicine technique, used quite commonly by accupuncturists.

Glass cups are heated and placed on the skin, the heat causes a vacuum, and draws blood to the surface.

Can I include a link? http://www.tcmwell.com/TCMNaturalTherapy/GuashaCupping/Alternative-Medical-Treatment---Fire-Cupping.html

Hope that's ok