Sharp

Hi All,

I have just returned from Singapore expecting another 3 month stamp on my Visa B which is valid until next month only to discover when I got home the immigration officer has given me 30 day stamp ,tourist I assume ...she didn't notice I have a business visa probably due to its location in my passport.And I didn't check until I got home .

Anyhow my question is the current stamp says I have until 9/11/2012 and my B visa runs until 14/11/2012 so if I go out and come back before the 14/11 will I get a 3 months stamp or will questions be asked why I only received 30 days before.

Cheers.

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Hello I have a question and could use some advise. I am in my mid thirties and I have been involed with a thai lady for several months now. I went to Thailand a few months ago and met her, her family and daughter. She lives in Northeast Thailand and has a college degree. I am trijng to understand Thai culture as it is very different than the west. I am going to Thailand next month to get engaged to her. My customs are that the brides family normally takes care of this however I know this is different than in Thailand. She is asking for $200,000 baht and 5 gold baht for a engagement ceromony. I am currently filling for a K1/K2 Visa for her and her child to move to america and get married in the states in 90 days. I just want to make sure I am not being taken advantage of. If she has been married before should Drowy for Sin Sod be payed again? Should I discuss the amount with her family. I am not being cheap but according to hours of research trying to understand this

How Much Should I Be Paying For Sin Sod?

This depends on six factors, as listed and discussed below:

1. Family Name
   
2. Education College Degree
   
3. Prior Marital Status Divorced
   
4. Dependants One Child
   
5. Job Good Job
   
6. Age Mid Thirties
   

Should I accept the Drowy and Sin Sod or Talk to her family because accorrdind to Miay Mai no Drowy or Sin Sod should be paid. Thanks for looking everyone.

Agree to it as to be honest you should receive it back after the ceremony ....

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There seems to be a lot of negativity against looking after the Thai in-laws on here.

I for one think it is perfectably reasonable to help them out now and again due to the lack of social welfare in Thailand.

OAP's only get 500bhat a month from Thaksins goverment policy.

So the old rely on the young not like in the west where they are put in retirement homes and lose their assets to the goverment with inheritance tax etc.

The Thai way of doing things is more family orientated.

How would you want to spend your later years? - being cared for by your family and your assets going where they are rightfully intended.

or letting strangers care for your elderly and infirm relatives.

My Thai wife has already said on many occasions that she finds the wests way of caring for elder members of the family terrible.

With this in mind and i don't mean financing the whole village what do you think?

For me I agreed to send 10,000 baht per month to her parents nearly 10 years ago and has never stopped and they have never asked for more so personally I'm ok with our arrangement.

When I go there everything is free I'm not asked for anything nor feel they should .its just my agreement if you will and I am more that happy with it .

But her mom does loan out small amounts of money and makes a small livin on top out of this so as the missis said its enough darling ...bless...

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Hi All,

Can anyone recommend a good bodywork repair shop for vehicles cars,pickups etc.

Thanks

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"The bullies claim to be bullied" ...... Just like Lance Armstrong ...... Just like my ex Thai wife! I think if you researched Thaksin (or Armstrong) you would find that they are both socio-paths. These people lie and cheat their way into positions of power, and it is a psychological condition that Thaksin displays in his many actions. These people are dangerous for the world because they are unable to comprehend the severity of their actions and behaviours. If you study Lance Armstrong you'll see the similarities. Those not involved in the cycling world do not know just how much power he had and how much mayhem he created. They have the ability to make people believe them but if you can see behind the facade then you'll know just how bad these peeps are.

What does lance Armstrong have to do with this thread. By the way how many drug test did he pass.

Does lance have a few of the missing M-16s

Wwwwwoooooaaahhhhhh....

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EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW

Ties with Thaksin not behind rise to top of NSC: Paradorn

ATTAYUTH BOOTSRIPOOM, JEERAPONG PRASERTPONKRANG, ANAPAT DEECHUAY

THE NATION

BANGKOK: -- Lt-General Paradorn Pattanatha-butr is seen by his critics as having won the position of National Security Council (NSC) secretary-general because of his close ties with former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra.

So they wonder whether he will be able to handle security affairs.He gave an interview to The Nation and introduced himself without waiting to be asked, saying straightaway:

Several people may be confused as to why I have risen to this position. I graduated from Class 14 of the Armed Forces Academies Preparatory School and graduated from Class 25 of the Chulachomklao Royal Military Academy. I am a classmate of Army Chief-of-Staff General Udomdej Sitabutr, Deputy Permanent Secretary for Defence General Nipha Thongle, Metropolitan Police Commissioner Pol Lt-General Khamronwit Thoopkrajang and the new commander of the National Peacekeeping Command. The Internal Security Operations Command (ISOC) and the NSC will have to work closely. I have been working for the NSC since 1991. I have been working here since I was a lieutenant-colonel. Compared to other former NSC chiefs, I have been working at the NSC far longer. I know officials here from the drivers to C-10 officials. So, some may feel worried because I know the characters of all NSC officials and know how they have risen up in their career path.

Have you been appointed because of political connections?

The most important qualification of an NSC chief is that he must win trust from the prime minister. This is a normal practice around the world, not just in Thailand. Knowledge and capabilities are debatable, but he must be trusted. This is because security affairs have to deal with "white", "grey" and "black" operations. I am not saying they are unlawful, but they are confidential and cannot be made public, so the jobs need to be handled by a person that can be trusted so that secrets will not be leaked.

It has been rumoured that you were hand-picked for the NSC position by this government from the beginning.

It may be a case of multiple coincidences. First, I am qualified because I have been working here for years. Then, the government happens to wish to solve the security problems, especially problems in the deep South, which are being handled by the ISOC and the Southern Border Provinces Administrative Centre (SBPAC). I happened to be the best officer to co-ordinate the work of the ISOC and SBPAC. Pol Colonel Thawee Sodsong, the secretary-general of the SBPAC, was my junior colleague at the military pre-cadet school. I graduated from Class 14 and he gradated from Class 21. So, the situation required me in this position.

You are seen as having rising in your career path during the tenures of governments close to Thaksin.

It's just coincidence. I happened to rise in rank when these governments were in office. If you ask about my ties with Thaksin, I'll say Thaksin used to be a police officer who worked as an aide of my uncle, Preeda Pattanathabutr. Thaksin's father, Lert Shinawatra, was a friend of my father, Lt-General Korbkul Pattanathabutr. … We have close ties because my parents live in Chiang Mai and our houses are not far apart so we know each other.

I have known Thaksin since we were young. Then, we studied in the military pre-cadet school together. [One of us was in Class 10 and the other in Class 14]. We happened to progress in our career path at the same time. It's nothing more than that. Some might worry too much about this.

Have you met Thaksin recently?

To tell you the truth, I've not met him these days. I don't have to meet him in person, but I think we know each other's wishes. If you ask whether he helped push me to the position, I'll say it's true. But the situation also permitted it, so I was lucky.

What will your main missions as the NSC chief be?

Now, I must create unity between the ISOC, which is in charge of military operations, and the SBPAC, which is the development arm. I must find out how to have the two agencies move forward together smoothly in line with the main policies. If an experienced military officer, who has good understanding of civilians, police and military, works here, he will be able to create a balance and integrate the work of the two agencies. So, the operation centre for driving policies and strategies for solving the problems in the southern border provinces was set up, and I am now the secretary of the centre. We still have the same policies and strategies but we follow up on what has been done by all sides. What shall be done so that the ISOC and SBPAC will reach their goals fast? There must be a coordination centre. I'll ensure that the central agencies will support the forward commands to solve the problems effectively. To do this, we will need support from 17 ministries and 66 agencies.

What do you think about the southern problems?

I think we are walking on the right path. All involved simply have to follow up on what has been done. We have clear strategies. The policy of understanding and reaching and developing the local people is a key strategy and we are using peaceful means. This strategy must continue and we will simply have to implement it with consistency. But we will have to have unity in the operations. Regarding the call for the lifting of the emergency decree, all of us have that goal because it is a special law. Don't forget that the government has to view the situation in terms of the overall picture. But the government also has to set the condition for officials to work and to provide safety for the people. This special law is good in that it protects the officials in their operations. And military officers are not law enforcers but they have to come in to help police and civilian officials, whose number is inadequate. Since military officers step in to help, they must be protected by a special law.

All governments, including the Democrat administration, realised the call for the lifting of the emergency and wanted to do it but we have to consider the real situation. Even the Democrat-led government could not lift the emergency decree. The enforcement of a special law affected the confidence of the country. From now on, we will assess the enforcement of the emergency decree. Academics from Prince of Songkla University will help us evaluate and will conduct an opinion survey to find out whether the people want us to lift the emergency. The university has agreed to help us, as the academics also see the need to retain the emergency decree. But they see that the government must increase security measures to create safety zones. There are several conditions for lifting the emergency decree and after we lift it, we must not declare it again. It will create a lot of trouble if we declare the emergency again after lifting it for three or six months.

How do you view national security threats, which are caused by politics?

We have a policy that we will not lead the country to war - either internally or externally. The NSC must be in charge of the various political groups. We will be able to solve the problems better because we have learned lessons from the past. The past mistakes led our country to problems so we must solve the problems when they start brewing. We must do it by adhering to the laws. The laws must be respected and we must use both the rule of law and justice principle.

For example, when the clash between red-shirt and yellow-shirt people happened in front of the Crime Suppression Division, police should have made video records to see who was who. These were illegal acts and the case has a statute of limitations. The laws must be enforced fairly to both sides. Police must find out who hit whom first. Did the yellows hit the reds first? I've sent a message to police so next time this kind of incident must not happen. If it happens, police must enforce the laws strictly. Police could not be lenient because the violence could spread and the situation could get out of control and it would require a huge number of officers to handle the situation. In that case, police would not have enough forces and troops would have to be deployed to control the situation. We must prevent the situation from escalating to that point.

What are your security measures for dealing with terrorism?

Thailand is not a target of international terrorists. But Thailand is often used by terrorists because of our policy to promote tourism for the sake of the economy. Thais are hospitable and like parties so this could be a weak point. Now, they are protesting against a movie related to Islam. They want to use Thailand as a stage for holding protests. Now, we are monitoring these people. But it is lucky that those who are campaigning in Thailand have a record of using violence. If the issue is reported too often, they could be motivated to use violence. And if we warn them, those who like to use violence could join the fray. What should we do then? So, we have to send messages to foreign countries that we are ready to keep peace and in the mean time, we will have to seek understanding with these people as well.

Are there many real terrorists in Thailand?

Not many, I think. They just pass through and do not stay. We have to manage this well. If we think that it's not good for them to be present in our country, we must push them out because they have not done anything illegal. We know they are present because the countries that they have problems with will alert us. We will push them out because problems could occur if they are arrested here. The case of Victor Bout [a Russian arms dealer sought by the US who was arrested in Thailand] was an example. It became entangled. We would be in trouble because we stand in the middle between two rivals, who are both superpowers. And we have interests in friendship with both countries, so we must be careful about our stand.

-- The Nation 2012-10-08

My scary thoughts exactly ......

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If everybody was "pig sick of damned stupid threads that constantly dredge up the same old topics over and over and over again' and didn't reopen them , TV would be pretty boring, just like it would be if everybody didn't contiue to contribute "off topic" posts - including me! .

So anyways someone was telling me the other day that comming to Thailand can make you bisexual. Let's discuss.

Hi :-)))

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The problem is, fuel is going up 4 satang, just for Phuket, so, if these new buses are run by Thai's, I expect a ride from Patong to Kata to go from 20 baht to 250 baht, because fuel has gone up.

There is no such thing planed, like a 'bus from Patong to Kata! (only the usual red and yellow ones)

It's all about Airport to: Kamala / Kata-Karon / Rawai

No one is fighting the Tuk Tuks, and trying to open a 'west coast bus link'!

And:

All this buses will have to offer the last fair, as soon it is dark.

It's for the image, not to become a solution!

Let's see I here the lovely Russians are looking into it ......should prove interesting if this happens...

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Just returned from a visit to the wifes parents house and i'm fuming.

We gave them some framed pictures of their grandchildren and some family pics of us and our children together. So they could hang them up next to their other family pics.This was a few months ago when we stayed for the weekend, they ended up in the bottom of the wardrobe covered with various household items. I offered to hang them next to the pics of the 3 eldest sons on the wall in the main room as they are a similar size picture and frame, which they agreed to.

We visited them this last weekend and guess what my kids pics are back in the bottom of a cupboard, my missus was shocked but kept quite. I feel hurt and insulted but kept quite.

Is this a culture thing? Because the pics were placed next to the pics of the 3 eldest sons, i don't know!

They are good quality portraits but the in-laws dont wish to have them on their walls which incidently i paid for along with the rest of the house. They call our children,their grand-children farang and not by their names.

Are they taking the mick or have i blown this out of proportion? Letting off steam!!!!

For wot it's worth my missis just said that's total disrespect ......quote.... Better he not waste his time save it for his family and wife....very bad darling ....so your call.....

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Anyone familar with Tawan Properties (Tawan Views in particular) on this forum. I have an interest in one of the developments by this company and I am interested in hearing from other owners/investors. Ian Spurdle is the Sales Manager and Andy Street the principal. Thanks.

Give it a miss if I was u my friend already has had issues,,,,

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and people complain about dual pricing in los???

Good point....

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Michael, you have misinterpreted this situation very badly. You are obviously a very hansum and charming falang man. One or both of those dear ladies definitely thinks so. I would suggest that the sole purpose of their parking in your driveway was to set up a meeting with you and hopefully some further assignation with you. The mild letter of rebuke you received ( who amongst us has not been called a kee nok falang?) was an act of passion, of love spurned.

You must repair the bridges and write a letter back to the lady begging forgiveness for your unspeakable rudeness. Who knows what a bountiful harvest you may reap? Cheers bb.

Wwwwwwwoooooooaaaaahhhhhhh..

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Ah, the killer argument :

"By saying we Thai people have no manners you are also saying that ..... has no manners."

"Never argue with an idiot. They will only bring you down to their level and beat you with experience."

Class......

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Next time just let the air out of their tyre Thai compassion style.

Yeah and don't forget to drag ya key down the side for good measure ...

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20000 is not really much but i guess its business as usual in Patong.

Btw, I have been there yesterday and the new TIGER has opened already opposite of the old one... I wondered a little bit how it could be happen so fast, just one burned and a new one is build almost imidiately on the other side of Bangla Road where is normally not much space left....

Another thing I wondered yesterday a little bit, may be some of the members here can explain whats going on there in Patong.

A friend of mine ownes a Restaurant and was picked up one sunny day by the Authorities for working without a work permit... he was writing something in german on his menu black board outside the Restaurant... finally it costs him around 200k for working without a proper license...

I saw a lot of ladies dancing in glass boxes yesterday in soi Bangla...since they where very obviously not Thai but Russian i wonder if somebody will explain while it is allowed to them to dance/work there... some other Russian girls in their mid 20 walking the streets with signs and pricetables.... I learned once that it is forbidden for Farang to work any kind of work in Thailand a Thai can do... has this law changed already and can I start working tomorrow too? May be I am planning a dancing career too

I've already asked the question ref the western ladies of the night and according to the labour office in Phuket Town ....are u ready ???? They all have work permits and their job titles are " actresses " no BS it was a legal and correct reply to the question .....now that's funny...

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The guy's a clown.

If there was any chance of the tuk tuk driver getting smoked, would he really be talking on camera? I think he was just a random tuk tuk driver the guy paid to "confess".

Same with the bird; three boyfriends - one living here - sending money and she goes on camera for a Nat Geo expose?

I mean would you send that girl THB40k a month?? Not saying she was ugly but I can't imagine any guy sending her an email let alone forty large.

She was paid to invent those boyfriends for the sake of the show.

Quite laughable

Although there are BELEIVE it or not guys that would send that amount of cash I have to agree with most of your points absolutely no way would a girl be on the roof terrace of a hotel alone and be so approachable and give up so much info ...

Laughable for sure...

I feel he made several attempts to meet girls the next day and anyone who has been around unless u pay the fine and take them there and then the chance of them meeting u next day will hardly ever happen ....hence the set up meet..

IMHO

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Hey all,

Today I went with my employer to our local visa office to apply for (what we thought) another year for me to work here. We had all the documents, everything was in order (though I know that rarely means a smooth ride in any immigration office in the World). I was expecting some kind of hiccup, because quite frankly the immigration system is ludicrously bad, but I wasn't prepared for what I was told.

Basically, I've been told we are no longer allowed to apply for a years stay on a work permit. Now, instead of the easy 90-day reporting procedure (which I have never had a problem with and have never been late for) we are to re-apply for the same visa again, every 90 days. The office told me that I have to come in before my 90 days are up and re-apply not only to stay in Thailand to work (despite my work permit going for 1 year) but also pay the 1900 baht fee to do so.

Now I was furious, but I'm not stupid, (or man) enough to take on any police officers so I didn't say anything about it and made sure I got my 90 days. But I spoke to my boss and my girlfriend called a gentleman who runs a Thai visa run company, and they both said that this is the new rule.

So in short, apparently now 90 days is the limit on a B-visa, and you now have to pay 4 times the amount to stay in the Country for a year, in 3-month installments.

Is this for real, or am I being given nonsense stories from my local immigration?

That total BS my friend I have just renewed my as usual no NEW RULE ....

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Now guys, your not thinking in my twilight universe, a must is on the hottest day, super cheap, on the wettest day, the night bizarre / market, the desalination plant at karon, the view point by knife point, site seeing by night following the garbage truck, unmissable, the rhythmic chant and gestures of the napal tailors and sellers, hypnotic!!!!, the computer game "grand tuk tuk auto", the rolling hills of Patong, literally the are rolling down the mountains, of coarse my Favorite, multi tasking (texting, reading, applying make up, sleeping)whilst driving a motor bike with a baby,you can also pay for day coarses on Thai electrics(multi feed displacement), building de-renovation (when the building looks finished and perfect, pull it apart), mastering blue pipe plumbing (without glue) a true art, welding, the art of cataract removal, tile cutting duration record (normally a full 24hours), mastering road drainage, or building it, fill it, fix it, the police do a day training coarse on fining, a must for all communist dictators in waiting, and least we forget the original origins of the book "the art of seduction"+"men or from mars woman are from Venus", a insight into the inner workings of the Lady, including safe cracking, pick pocketing, money laundering, death, document forgery and making the perfect breakfast as in the stead ford wifes, so Mr and Mrs tourist, a big welcome to Thailand and especially Phuket, i'm sure i've missed out some other great site seeing things, please fellow TV members add and share, remember it's twilight universe types,

Jezz....

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Jeez .....

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Hi,

Whilst I know knowone can predict the weather I was concerned to see the flood pictures on the news the other day and am worried about my trip to Phuket next Sunday. Are large areas affected? It is hard to find information online and I want to know if it may be worth canceling my trip. I know its rainy season and there is always potential for downpours but I know very little of the logistics of Patong or other areas in relation to this rain. Any help is appreciated.

It's all ok my friend u will have agreat time the sun is beaming as of now ...

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Hey everyone,

In our Thailand trip we have spared 5 days for Phuket and Don Phi Phi. I know it is less but that is the time that we have. Can the nice members here recommend some things for us to not miss?

We'd highly like to try a steam boat but due to the steam boat scams that I hear everywhere, we're scared renting a boat. Is there like a legit company for this?

Also we would love to visit the shooting ranges if they are economical.

Thanks

Safari,s r ok too and the lady boy show in Phuket Town ,shallowing diving but honestly it still is monsoon season so I would leave the speed boats alone right now it looks ok from the beach but further out ummmmmm na ...

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Last time it was an American guy with a million dollars, now it a UK guy with a million dollars. I think the million dollars gets around quite a bit.

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Yeah yank saying a million dollars ..ok. A Brit saying anything in dollars I don't think so £s my friend u really got a way with it close this nonsense ..

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just reading a couple of posts that are on here tonite,

theres sllways the one that pulls thai girls down, thats there,

my question to all the experts who post on here, how many do live in thailand,??

or how many sit at home saving for the next holiday with a toilet role at there side so they can wipe there mouth because of all the <deleted> that comes out of it,

i still work for a living, all over the world, but i live in thailand, on my cv, on the tax mans books in the uk, i live in thailand,

thailand isnt just pattaya/bangkok ect, and im not pulling them places down ive got a few mates who live in both,

but please to all you experts who have been here a couple of times, cant afford to live here, so sit at home having a go at the older person who can live here(im 52) or younger person who can live here for that matter,

get a life,, get of your high horse and let people who want to live here, weather it be with a bar girl of a fukcing ladyboy for that matter get on with there lifes without you judging what they do who they do it with,

have a good day boys,

and to top it all the yanks are kicking our <deleted> at the bloody golf,,lol

jake

Yep ....bloody yanks....wots goin on with the golf ??...I live here and love it ....

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Surely you would have to have police on the beat first for that to work, or at least outside of the police station.

Ha ha ,,,nice ....

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I don't think that you speaking to the girl, in Thai, behind the man's back, was particularly decent of you (if indeed that was the case).

I too don't see the point of your post other than perhaps an ego shot?

Let me clarify. I was not speaking about the man negatively. As I have said he was very nice and I was trying my best to avoid it.

My issue is with the fact that he was a decent guy who was being taken advantage of by this girl.

So of course because of your kind concern you told him correct as it must of really affected you to post it ...right!!!!!

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