Bignose

From my previous experience the advice given here is perfectly correct, apart from the 30 days prior to expiration for renewal.

Here in Samui my local office would not allow me to renew my extension any more than one week before expiration, it may be worth checking on that if you are leaving Thailand shortly before expiration.

Whatever the cause of his premature demise is really unimportant (to most people outside of his family) It's a tragic loss to his family, friends and the people he was helping.

Unlike the rest of us farang's who skip through life and contribute the bare minimum, this man was making an effort to give something back and help others, very worthy and commendable.

Again a sad and tragic loss with condolences and commiserations to his family, friends and co-workers in Laos...

Getting from Changi to Tanglin (Orchard) where the embassy is may be tricky on the MRT as there would be two changeovers, your best option is a cab, I havent been in morning traffic in SG for a while but around 10am should be ok. Expect to be robbed by the taxi driver, even though the meter IS running!

That's an expensive visa run!

Huh? Have lived in Singapore for 15 years and no idea what you're talking about. Frequency-wise, they're the most honest cabbies I've come across in my travels. Yeah, there's the occasional rip-off, but it's very rare - the government goes hard on any driver caught doing funny business, and all the taxi companies are government linked. The Singapore government is also very sensitive about it's image re efficiency and honesty. So no, the OP will not get 'robbed' in any sense of the term.

Quite correct as the taxi's are strictly regulated, I once registered a complaint as the driver took me on a scenic tour rather than the AYE. I kept the receipt and emailed the details into the relevant department, less than a week later I received a phone call to confirm the details. The result was a voucher to be used on the taxi system later and a further email and phone call to explain that the driver had been suspended and would require "retraining"

The previous advice is spot on as the taxi is the way to go, as previously posted decline the Chrysler 300 as they are more expensive (on a long run like the airport substantially so)

For entertainment ask the driver what he thought of Lee Kuan Yew and his governments policies, the thirty minutes or so into Orchard Road will fly in...

sorry for your loss but not sure why you would want to share this with everyone ?????????

This is a decent forum for airing views, experiences and thoughts, like most other sites it has more than it's fair share of cynical, depressing and sometimes borderline racist contributions.

There are many contributors who have forgotten their life in this fantastic country is a privilege and not a right.

The original contribution was at the other end of the scale. it was refreshing and uplifting. Yes there was tragedy for the OP which we all sympathize with, but at least they had each other even if it was for a short period.

Like many others I am glad he took the time to share this with us, I hope this is cathartic for him and helps with his grieving, it was a wonderful break from the other childish and unfunny contributions we see all too often.

Once again my condolences too you...

Condolences to you for your very untimely loss, although the whole experience is a tragedy for you the treatment you received must have been heart warming and reassuring, easy to see why you're girlfriend was so special coming from a family like that.

It may not be much consolation to you but most people go through life and never experience a relationship like you and your partner had, cherish the memories my friend as they are the reason we are here.

Thank you for sharing this with us and all the very best for the future...

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Woe betide anyone that "insults" Thai culture.

Of course Hitler Fried Chicken and school children dressed in Nazi uniforms is just a "misunderstanding".

Cultural sensitivity is strictly a one-way street in this country.

Whether you think it is of no consequence is of no importance, the airline involved have apologized and have moved on, that should be enough for everyone.

The Thai population have every right to to take offence to this perceived slight as that is their culture culture, what more is their to comment on???

We all complain long and hard (mostly justifiably) about the Thai legal system and processes, just about every day we hear of some strange decision or event.

But...

This is ample evidence that there are anomalies happening all round the world with Thailand not being unique, I don't know who first stated "The law is an ass" but they had it just about right!

As someone posted earlier why oh why is a DNA test not done at the very beginning? Wouldn't that have been the easy way to confirm who was right???

For generations there have been murders, massacres, rape's and every other despicable crime committed in the name of some cause during conflict, we would be hard pushed to find a country "innocent" and who have not been involved at some time.

While it is true that the soldiers concerned would probably have long passed and be beyond the court's jurisdiction, it is important that a major principle be maintained!

A sense of justice must be maintained, what cause or objective is worth fighting for if we are to ignore one of the basic fundamentals?

All too often these events happen on the orders of superiors, if they do not have prior knowledge then there would probably be knowledge "after the fact" and collusion in dealing with the aftermath and consequences. As society matures and progresses, with the onset of the information society that we now live in this is totally unacceptable. Acts of inhumanity and cruelty can never be justified or excused, no matter what the cause or conflict.

If as a society we are to progress and grow, crimes like this no matter how many years ago must be fully aired and investigated, not just to lay blame at the feet of the squadie who pulled the trigger, but at the hierarchy who either ordered it or allowed it to happen...

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It seems that our commenter(s) here have much in common with the average Thai, and have no working understanding of the Nazi movement, or the policy of requiring their own citizens (of Jewish decent) ... to wear the Yellow Star of David)

None of the people with the wrist bands are to be stripped of their material possessions, thrown from their homes, herded into ghettoes, starved and used in salve labor camps, and eventually systematically exterminated.

It is a rather long stretch to employ this historical reference, in very poor taste, inaccurate and disrespectful to both Holocaust victims, and Thailand's decision makers.

We can debate the efficacy of this "wristband" idea ... but with the world community (rightly) complaining about the horrid human trafficking record in SEA, this is their idea of a quick and "Bureaucratic Lite" solution.

Yes, one could forge the wristbands, but the wearer would then face dire consequences when that is discovered. (Note to the seller of fake wristbands, these people drop dime at the count of three)

I know it is impossible for anyone to do anything in Thailand that does not solicit swift derision from the All Knowing Thai Visa Thai Bashing Boardroom above the Clouds.

Would any of you boy geniuses like to climb down from Cloud 9 and tell us how the Thai Government can quickly and easily begin to track those migrants who are allowed to cross the border much more easily than any Farang Expat?

Do you understand that there is genuine fear in the hearts of these people to be found here without proper documentation, and this Wristband thing ... just might get a lot of folks to register pronto - presto?

As for the human traffickers, it certainly might be a dark day to be found with a dozen "Sorry, no wristband" folks in your van.

But, I forgot. EVERY Thai idea is a bad one.

Funny, seems like Thai Visa is long on whining, and very short on solutions.

(PS: Do you people understand that in the Fortune 500 companies, it is Standard Operating procedure for every emplyee to wear a photo ID around thier neck at all times? I worked for IBM , and you could not move around your building, or the corporate campus without one. That applies to most big companies.

What they are saying is "Who are you?" "Do you have the right to be here/" Do you have the right to WORK HERE?" ETC.

That does not make them the SS ... it makes them smart and responsible people who want to know who is on their property. )

Wha a collection of Chicken Littles this site has become !!!

While this could be considered a very emotive issue with worth while opinions from both sides, the circumstances leading up to the holocaust must never be minimized or forgotten. Every child of every continent must be educated with the facts and details of the very worst example of what man is capable of, this should help ensure nothing remotely like it happens again.

In saying that the quoted contribution is thoughtful and well argued, the situation Thailand finds herself in requires some immediate and effective action, I too can see the value in making it obvious who is here legally. The present government are tackling multiple issues that require immediate action, they don't have the luxury of time as the preceding impostors squandered that (along with hundreds of billions of Baht)

If these wrist bands help to track illegal workers, if they help eliminate (or even impede) the people smugglers then so be it...

Excellent news that can only be welcomed, I have more than a sneaking suspicion that this will be followed through with (hopefully) prosecutions of the worst offenders.

Yes it is easy to post negative comments regarding previous corruption and "how" this was allowed to happen in the first place, we all know why this has happened. People with influence, power and the right connections were allowed to steal the use of this land from the state. There is no question in my mind that extensive corruption has been a major part of this crime against the Thai people, against the Thai people as they are ultimately the owners of this land.

It would be great if offences like these, including the corruption and nepotism, could be solved completely at the stroke of a pen, they cannot! This will require a prolonged and extensive investigation which will hopefully remove those who failed in their duty to the departments they worked for.

It is worth noting that one important message has been sent to those who were involved, or those who would like to be involved. The process has been started to eradicate this kind of behavior and to bring those involved to book, if you wish to continue with you're corrupt practices you will be caught!

If the previously normal and acceptable corrupt attitudes and practices are to be changed and eradicated, then this kind of reform must continue across all aspects of government both local and state...

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What are the odds that this will be a questionable death, and that there will be clear evidences of murder, before the 10th post?

The same as the odds that with every story such as this someone will post something critical of Thai Visa.com members...

I am going for the trifecta; here's the obligatory "the police are absolutely clueless" comment.

RIP btw.

The "btw" seems to sum it up perfectly, here we have a tragic story of a man "appearing" to die alone in what could reasonably be described as a lonely situation. The best we have to offer is a throw-a-way expression of sympathy tagged on the ar$e end of some banal and superficial banter.

And you wonder why there are critical comments of TVF members?

An extremely sad and tragic story with commiserations and condolences to his family...

While I enjoy girls "enjoying themselves" in public as these girls did, I can also see the logic in what is happening here. We all know what kind of reputation Thailand has, it's a reputation that has been cultivated over many years and may not in itself be family friendly!

If the present government are trying to change the worlds perception of Thailand into something more wholesome and family friendly, this may be an unfortunate step that has to be taken.

Lets be honest there is no shortage of bars, clubs or hotel rooms where you can all enjoy this kind of entertainment, maybe just maybe taking it out of public view and off the streets in general may not be a bad thing. I have made the point several times in previous threads, would you be happy for you're daughter to perform for the public in this way? It's all a case of what is considered as "public decency" Why should Thailand be any different to most other countries in the world?

I patiently await the avalanche of derisory comments...

Unfortunately this kind of heinous crime is far too common all round the world, it is not specifically a Thai issue but seems more prevalent where the female has a lower standing in society than the male.

India springs to mind as one of the area's where the rural population are less well educated, the number of (reported) incidents away from the most populist area's has increased greatly over the last few years.

As with drug smugglers and those who carry out premeditated murder, I fear an imposition of capital punishment for the worst cases may be necessary.

Something must be done to shock those that see rape as acceptable, something must be done to bring about in change to attitudes and bring them round to a more modern appreciation of life and personal dignity...

You are all perfectly correct as the scourge of gambling can be the death knell for any relationship, in extreme cases it can take years for the individuals concerned to get their lives back on track.

To me one absolutely necessary step is to cut off the supply of money, whether you believe in equal rights within the marriage and joint bank accounts matters not. If the money is being squandered on a gambling addiction then you must cut off the supply, that at least should allow you to work on any issues without losing you're home.

I know words are easy and that I am extremely fortunate as I've never had to deal with this kind of issue, but I would suggest this is a prerequisite in dealing with this issue...

She should come and live at our place for a week, after a night of Guinness and a good Vindaloo you'll be able to use the toilets at Chernobyl power station before you can use ours...!!!

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What will Thailand's leading crusader against corruption do now?

I'm sure the usual twit brigade will be along to claim its a plot by Thaksin.

Poor chap. Working in corrupt surroundings kills the soul. Maybe the General will take notice, or as is more likely, he will not.

On many occasions g'kid who have attempted to scold people who post when the matter is unclear, no full details, etc.

Now you display your own double standards and go even one step further by saying rubbish which has no basis whatever.

A man had died, a little compassion for that fact is more to the point.

Oh my. Let's look at what I wrote and your nonsensical comment.

You write a little compassion for the fact that a man has died is more to the point.

Well, if you read what I wrote, you know, the part about poor chap and working in corrupt surroundings killing the soul, you would indeed see compassion. I do feel sorry for the man's predicament.

Perhaps, what irks you is that the deceased took his life due to his despair of working in a corrupt environment. The senior officials who are there were appointed by the military junta led by the self appointed PM and self described leader in the fight against corruption. In case you missed it, all senior positions had to be reaffirmed by the military administration. Are you irked because you cannot blame the bogeyman Thaksin and this sad event has landed in the lap of your beloved military administration? Weren't you one of the people blaming the deposed PM Yingluck when a farmer suicided? BTW, did you know farmers are still killing themselves? Unlike the situation with the farmer, we are not seeing the TVF Yingluck abuser brigade pointing their stubby digits at this administration. I wonder why that is?

Everyday, the military retains its suffocating grip on Thailand, you and your pals who belittled and denigrated the former PM as she endured the sabotage of the yellow shirt fifth column are shown to be wrong. Sadly, the nation suffers, including this man. Congratulations on being a part of the problem and not the solution.

How on earth you can manage to twist this sad and tragic story round to a defense of YS is truly astounding, you indeed are a wasted talent!

The only thing that was suffocating Thailand was the rampant and endemic corruption and nepotism that was not only tolerated by the Shin clan, but was actively encouraged by the greedy elite.

This present government may not be perfect but they are fighting the good fight, they have a huge task in front of them, that is to right the wrongs of the past from previous governments of BOTH sides of the political fence.

Hopefully if this present government are successful then tragedies like the one in this thread will become a thing of the past...

When two lives are at stake it is hard to be realistic without emotion, I don't believe many people actually "want" to see these two young men executed. The pain and grief for their families will be immense and life long, so very sad to see.

But in saying that...

When it gets down to plain hard facts they knew the risks when they attempted to smuggle the Heroin through, not only that but they were the organizers and King Pins in the operation. If my memory serves me correctly the other accused "mules" testified that Mr. Myuran Sukumaran was the groups enforcer, if any of them showed any doubt or were unwilling to proceed in the venture, he was the one to remind them of the consequences and pull them into line. He was feared by the group as a whole and was the driving force behind it proceeding with the numbers involved.

This was reported at the time to be their third journey between the two countries, while it was never proven it was raised that the two previous trips were for the same purpose, if true quite a lucrative trade.

If at the end of the day this was not "their first rodeo" how many people, how many lives have been damaged or destroyed by the product they peddled? If they had been successful with their last attempt how many more casualties would there have been?

While I (like most other people) respect the sanctity of life and of the individual, I shall reserve my thoughts and sympathy for the relatives left behind. These two young men will have to face their fate alone and hope that the hereafter holds more mercy and understanding than the Indonesian legal system...

Which one is the aussie?

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"Initially Krabi police had said everyone on board was safe but the Israeli girl was later listed as missing"

Wow ... is it too difficult to count the number of survivors from this mayhem or can these people dont count ? The incompetence takes a new low level. I dont wonder why more and more visitors say they will NEVER come back to this country thats just getting worse and worse by the day ...

RIP Little girl

While I understand you're sentiment regarding the reporting of this tragedy, I think it's worth considering the circumstances.

The rescue of the survivors by various boats after the fire would (I imagine) have been chaotic, there were many craft involved landing those rescued in various locations. While it may be fashionable to be critical of the authorities, I believe you are being harsh in labeling them as incompetent. I have seen this happen in other countries under similar circumstances, it has happened in Europe and more recently in Korea, with the best of intentions the logistics of tragedies make it very difficult to maintain a "real time" total of survivors.

It has been mentioned already that the little girl was at the toilet on her own, is there something unusual in this? This little girls loss was down more to bad luck than anything else, there was no negligence or fault on the part of her family, they only did what every other family has done for years. There will be the obvious questions regarding the maintenance and operation of the ferry, this obviously has nothing to do with the family as they are blameless.

Another terrible and tragic loss for a family, they have our condolences...

The flip side to the comments we normally see on TV, some excellent and thoughtful advice given with the very best of intentions, great to see and well done one and all.

Unfortunately I cannot give the OP any additional advice except to say she should stick with it, support you're partner as you are doing and there is a great chance you will both come through this very well.

Good luck and please update us when your partners situation improves...

Rape is probably one of the most base and disgusting crimes that Man has committed over the ages, the long lasting effect on victims can be both devastating and life changing.

It is only right that it should be treated as a high profile and violent crime, a heightened awareness of the heinous nature of this action may assist in eradicating the crime itself.

But...

Due to the devastating effect this kind of charge can have on individuals or organisations, it is imperative the greatest care is taken to ensure only factual complaints are publicly aired. Over the years RS has built a reputation as an innovative publication, the tardy nature of the reporting shown here will have had a huge effect on that reputation.

With all the checks and balances required for this kind of story before printing, I find it astonishing that everyone involved will "not be fired" If a reporter/editor will not lose their job over such a disaster what will they lose their job for?

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RIP. But it seemes to me farangs die too often in Thailand

They only die once! But too many die.

That entirely depends on whether you believe in "only one life" or in infinite reincarnation as the Thai Buddhists do. Personally I think we will be born again, perhaps not as a human. There is only one infinite consciousness in the universe that cannot be destroyed, just as matter itself cannot be created or destroyed.

Apart from the RIP what, if anything, has this sorry exchange got to do with the tragic death of the young man in the original post?

What are you people on?