DualSportBiker

2 hours ago, MartinL said:

So now even "resembling foreigners'  is a potential offence, is it? There seems to be no end of ways they're trying to finger foreigners for Thai crime. Surely, if the thieves definitely were foreigners, it would have been one of the first things used to describe them by the shop staff.

Hard to fathom how you get here. "Resembling foreigners" is not a crime; stealing is. Thin skin much?

Back when I was fresh and green here, I had a meeting with a bank about network security or something similar. My colleague who had been here a while made an observation I have kept close for constant re-use. "There was only one thing wrong with your logic young man," he said. "It was logical."

The application of logic to derive a way forward will only set you back...

On 1/2/2024 at 10:56 AM, 5davidhen1 said:

I would strongly argue that one is no more likely to be hit by an errant motorist (if, indeed he/she is) on any form of pedestrian crossing, in any country, than crossing a road in an area not so designated.

I would further argue that one may actually have a better chance of survival when using such a crosswalk etc.

Logical reasoning suggests to me that, if a section of road is signed to reflect that pedestrians may be crossing, that there will "probably" be a certain number of motorists who will expect such, and approach said crossing with the appropriate caution. Hence my statement "a better chance of survival."

That said, where UK road rules dictate that one must stop and give way to any pedestrian who so much as puts one foot on a zebra crossing, it is quite evident that this rule doesn't apply elsewhere.

To reiterate, I believe that any pedestrian is just as likely to be struck by a motorist wheresoever he/she chooses to cross.

I will usually choose a designated crossing point if there is one nearby, BUT, I will always look in every direction, prior to --- and during the exercise.

When I was (trying) to teach my son to how to drive, he would sometimes argue, "He/she shouldn't have done that, I had right of way!" To which I would frequently reply, "Would you like to argue that point from the grave?" 

The very first morning my Thai wife and I were in Singapore she yelled at me for walking onto a zebra crossing while a car was approaching. She was amazed that the driver stopped and did not yell at me for interrupting their drive! We were there for years so needed a full and proper reset when we moved back! 

Zebra crossings here are target zones! Expect to be unseen or ignored.

I changed from marriage to retirement visa three years ago. It was mildly problematic. I did it myself as the last visa agent I used during covid screwed me over. 
 

I was accused by the IO of have left my wife and therefore living illegally on a visa obtained through falsifying my application. They demanded to see my wife and talk to her on the spot and threatened me with immediate imprisonment. 
 

when I called my wife who was on a trip with friends, and the phone was unreachable, they thought they had their catch. Anyhow, they did spike to my wife and kinda regretted it, but they then issued my visa and rescinded offers of uncomfortable stay!

They did explain that there is no path from marriage to retirement visa. The logic of a wife passing away did not suggest that was a mistake. Their position was that a marriage visa is easier for foreigners as the wife will do the work! Doing a retirement visa is work for us foreigners and therefore less attractive. 
 

Anyhow, my renewal the following year was seamless. 

Drivers of all sorts, taxis, delivery trucks and private vehicles stop near my house. They keep their engines on while they sleep, eat, pee and leave rubbish just yards from a large bin I leave for them and 100m from three petrol stations. I guess I should be taking pics and informing the Men in Tauts. 

8 hours ago, Pattaya57 said:

Here is the formal requirements for a non-imm O (item 9)

 

https://www.immigration.go.th/en?page_id=2537

 

You can see how Savannakhet has butchered the income clause. It's like they took out the income part and left the rest 😀

 

It does indeed. Many thanks. I will sleep better as I have the 800K and no pension/overseas income to use in my claim of compliance. Cheers.

3 hours ago, Skipalongcassidy said:

Get a current list of required documents... yours is outdated... and quit being an a hole when someone asks you a question... you would probably get more responses.

The requirement is from yesterday's posting on the Thai Savannakhet's web site - not outdated. 

1 hour ago, bbi1 said:

Why would you not have to prove you are retired??? There are tons of people in the world over 50 who are not retired and are still wage slaves or running businesses. Sounds fair to ask for proof that someone is in fact retired and not faking it while being wage slaves or running a business. Retirement visas are for people who are legit retired and over the age of 50. If that's not the case, they shouldn't be on that visa and use the appropriate correct visa to visit Thailand. It's called a "retirement visa" for a reason.

How would any government outside of Thailand know who is working and who is not? I've not lived at home for 32 years - the UK government has no clue what I am up to. How they would provide a government-to-government assurance that I don't work is beyond me.

19 minutes ago, Pattaya57 said:

Below is the very latest from the Savannakhet Thai Consulate and it has the requirement for pension letter or proof of retirement as stated by OP

 

However, I think this may just a translation issue and is only for proof of income method, so if 800k in bank should not be needed as most embassies don't issue these letters anymore

 

I do hope you are right. My worry is that they need something from 'my' embassy which I also do not have and don't have time to get...

8 hours ago, Maestro said:

 

Who is TM?

Dtor Mor - Immigration Police

3 minutes ago, steve187 said:

why are you not getting the non immigrant O visa within Thailand

I stated why above.

"the death of my landlord and TM's insistence of a letter from father to daughter to authorise rental of the house I have been in for ten years! "

If you know how to get a letter from a dead person, please share your method and proof here. All I need is assistance understanding item 5 - thanks.

Hi,

I am preparing to travel to Savannakhet to apply for a retirement visa. Application here in naughty Nonthaburi is hampered by the death of my landlord and TM's insistence of a letter from father to daughter to authorise rental of the house I have been in for ten years! 

Anyhow, the requirement for "A pension letter or a prove of retirement issued by the applicant's Embassy/Consulate" is spelt wrong and confuses the hell out of me as to how to get.

This one requirement is my only challenge. Does anyone know if there is any leeway? 

Cheers.

On 11/15/2023 at 12:30 AM, BritTim said:

 

It seems you are lucky. Thai immigration at that border crossing can sometimes do much worse things to those arriving. In future, avoid going there.

If I did not tell you what happened to me, only what information I gleaned, how am I lucky? NRN

I just went to Aran to cross to Poi Pet. They don't allow you to return to Thailand on the same day; have to spend one night away. Also, you need a ticket out of Thailand to get a 30-day stamp. It is the Thais who will not let you in on the same day, not the Cambodians.

I just completed a 5-day, 2,000 km trip from Bkk to Chiang Mai and back. Other than large trucks using all the road on the 106 to Li from Thoen, and hogging the right-hand lane up to Mae Sot at 5km/h, the most dangerous road user I had to deal with almost every other local on a bike. They meander in the left lane and then cross without looking or thinking. I enjoy riding, but boy I don't enjoy sharing the road with Finos on the way to or from the market with hot food for hungry mouths!

22 hours ago, Adventurer1 said:

Nonsense. You like strong coffee. Starbucks is the finest tasting coffee by far. Starbucks is the best. Starbucks. 

Starbucks sucks in multiple ways. Far from the best - like miles off...

On 8/31/2023 at 12:46 PM, KhunLA said:

Bon Cafe coffee is a good start, easy to find, and not silly priced.  Test out some different blends or straight Arabica beans.  Light, medium, dark roast.

 

Then move on if not stratified.

 

What was your helpful suggestion ...

... oh wait, you didn't have one ????

I don't drink drippy coffee so would not offer a recommendation for something I know little about. I drink espresso, mainly blended Thai beans from my local non-starbucks,non-Amazon coffee shops. I dislike bon coffee - it's vague and tasteless and even smells off in an espresso. If you want a recommendation from me: Illy, Segafredo and Lavazza for imports and then Grazioso sells some great local beans.

17 hours ago, KhunLA said:

Bon Cafe, consistent, readily available.  I like their 'Morning Blend', with added plus, being it's their least expensive.

Bon coffee is precisely that - coffee to complain about! happy you like it, but...

There are two choices of defense. If the bike is stationary, grab a handful of throttle. If moving, try and slam on the front brake and turn the bars. 

22 hours ago, dingdongrb said:

Well researching I find the average cost for a sticker and sleeve combined is about $0.01 to $0.015 (USD). So my wild a$$ guess was way off.

 

But then one would have to ask, are they put on manually or with automated equipment?

 

If manually, how many pieces can the average employee do and what is the average wage?

 

If done with automated equipment then how much was that capital expense as well as the required space and repairs/maintenance?

 

Whatever the added costs, is it necessary?

 

I have never worked in a retail business, nor read any research on consumer habits. However I can wager a bag of apple stickers that customer perception is the driving force. I do remember my mother explaining to me why supermarkets in the UK had effectively stopped selling apples that were not round and green. Apparently young people's expectation of an apple was it should be both round and green... 

I did work in industrial cleaning so I quite often looked at packaging equipment. A machine to label apples in moderate volumes is not expensive. Neither is the packaging machine that wraps it with bubblewrap or cellophane. I am guessing here, but the cost per apple over a ten-year usable lifespan will be in the 1 to 10 cent range. If that means selling more apples then it is most likely worth it.

On 5/16/2023 at 7:47 PM, dingdongrb said:

I asked the same question and have yet to see a reply.

 

Using Google, I don't see any.

I buy 1 kg dog meat bags from Makro here in sunny Nonthaburi. They are under 40 Baht a bag last time I checked.

On 5/16/2023 at 6:54 PM, proton said:

Happily I have never had any and never will ????

But you still have so little to do that you feel the need to comment. No life?

My five dogs get a mix of meat from Makro (frozen beef or chicken scrapings @ 40 Baht a kilo) and biscuits. We use SmartHeart 7+ for older dogs. My maid adds the odd egg or veggies a couple of times a week. 20kg bag lasts 16 days and we use 500 grams of the meat each day, so five dogs cost under 100 Baht a day to feed. They range from 18 kg to 36 kg, but are all in good shape according to our vet.