ebonykap

Not wanting to sound like a chauvinist, but I think It's more a woman thing than a Thai trait.

I decided years ago it's impossible to understand them, only tolerate them!

I must be old-fashioned. If one decides to reside in a foreign country, I believe they should make the effort to speak some of the local language. I live alone but will speak Thai at every opportunity, despite the laughter and sometimes strange looks and "araina's"?

I also respect and follow the cultures and traditions of the country ie, take off my shoes, wai when appropriate etc.

Born in England, raised in Australia, call Thailand home!

You are correct "Ubon Joe" and in the case of an Aussie declaration it is often taken on the honesty of the applicant, without further proof being required. In Phitsanulok the Immo officer insisted on keeping my original 'Declaration' saying that it was a directive from their Chiangmai office?? I objected an stated that it is normal practice for them to veiw the original document and simply keep a photo-copy, plus I also had copies of my Bank and Pension statements. Very inconsiderate, as I will have to waste several days to get a new declaration from the Bangkok Embassy; - Was this 'Juniour Ossifer' being an 'Ass---e' by exerting what little authority he had, as he absolutely refused to process my visa extension without keeping the original "income declaration"?

I thought it was standard procedure for them to keep the original Declaration?

I completed my first visa extension for retirement today at CW. I neglected to take a photocopy of the main page of my bankbook, so the IO did one for me using the photocopier under her desk! Lovely lady, we had a nice conversation in Thai, the supervisor then scrutinised the documents, including my Declaration (no questions asked)....in and out in 10 minutes and a happy chappy

Oh, I almost forgot. Thank you for all the help from Ubonjoe and Co. here on ThaiVisa, I don't think I could have done it without your valued advice and assistance.

Cheers!

You are correct "Ubon Joe" and in the case of an Aussie declaration it is often taken on the honesty of the applicant, without further proof being required. In Phitsanulok the Immo officer insisted on keeping my original 'Declaration' saying that it was a directive from their Chiangmai office?? I objected an stated that it is normal practice for them to veiw the original document and simply keep a photo-copy, plus I also had copies of my Bank and Pension statements. Very inconsiderate, as I will have to waste several days to get a new declaration from the Bangkok Embassy; - Was this 'Juniour Ossifer' being an 'Ass---e' by exerting what little authority he had, as he absolutely refused to process my visa extension without keeping the original "income declaration"?

I thought it was standard procedure for them to keep the original Declaration?

I completed my first visa extension for retirement today at CW. I neglected to take a photocopy of the main page of my bankbook, so the IO did one for me using the photocopier under her desk! Lovely lady, we had a nice conversation in Thai, the supervisor then scrutinised the documents, including my Declaration (no questions asked)....in and out in 10 minutes and a happy chappy

You Have Two Choices

Jerry is the manager of a restaurant. He is always in a good mood.

When someone would ask him how he was doing, he would always reply:

'If I were any better, I would be twins!' Many of the waiters at his restaurant quit their jobs when he changed jobs, so they could follow him around from restaurant to restaurant.

Why？

Because Jerry was a natural motivator.

If an employee was having a bad day, Jerry was always there, telling him how to look on the positive side of the situation. Seeing this style really made me curious, so one day I went up to Jerry and asked him：

'I don't get it! No one can be a positive person all of the time. How do you do it?'

Jerry replied, 'Each morning I wake up and say to myself, I have two choices today. I can choose to be in a good mood or I can choose to be in a bad mood.

I always choose to be in a good mood. Each time something bad happens, I can choose to be victim or I can choose to learn from it. I always choose to learn from it.

Every time someone comes to me complaining, I can choose to accept their complaining or I can point out the positive side of life. I always choose the positive side of life.'

'But it's not always that easy,' I protested.

...(videVfl2)

'Yes it is,' Jerry said.

'Life is all about choices. When you cut away all the junk every situation is a choice.

You choose how you react to situations.

You choose how people will affect your mood.

You choose to be in a good mood or bad mood.

It's your choice how you live your life.'

Several years later, I heard that Jerry accidentally did something you are never supposed to do in the restaurant business. He left the back door of his restaurant open And then in the morning, he was robbed by three armed men. While Jerry trying to open the safe box, his hand, shaking from nervousness, slipped off the combination. The robbers panicked and shot him.

Luckily, Jerry was found quickly and rushed to the hospital.

After 18 hours of surgery and weeks of intensive care, Jerry was released from the hospital with fragments of the bullets still in his body....

I saw Jerry about six months after the accident.

When I asked him how he was, he replied, 'If I were any better, I'd be twins. Want to see my scars?' I declined to see his wounds, but did ask him what had gone through his mind as the robbery took place.

'The first thing that went through my mind was that I should have locked the back door,' Jerry replied. 'Then, after they shot me, as I lay on the floor, I remembered that I had two choices: I could choose to live or could choose to die. I chose to live.'

'Weren't you scared' I asked?

Jerry continued, 'The paramedics were great. They kept telling me I was going to be fine.

But when they wheeled me into the Emergency Room and I saw the expression on the faces of the doctors and nurses, I got really scared. In their eyes, I read 'He's a dead man. I knew I needed to take action.'

'What did you do?' I asked.

'Well, there was a big nurse shouting questions at me,' said Jerry. 'She asked if I was allergic to anything.' 'Yes,' to bullets, I replied.

Over their laughter, I told them: 'I am choosing to live. Please operate on me as if I am alive, not dead.'

'Jerry lived thanks to the skill of his doctors, but also because of his amazing attitude.

I learned from him that every day you have the choice to either enjoy your life or to hate it.

The only thing that is truly yours - that no one can control or take from you - is your attitude,

so if you can take care of that, everything else in life becomes much easier.

Now you have two choices to make:

1. You can ignore this message or

2. You can learn and apply the lessons from this story.

One of the best posts I've seen on this forum.

+1

Does this include the double and triple prices charged to unsuspecting foreigners and other tourists?

I once wanted to buy some pineapple in a bag from a street vendor. The Thais in front of me were charged 20b, and then he asked me for 40b.

I loudly asked him in Thai if he was serious about his fruit costing 40b and lo and behold, instantly (well, when other Thais looked at him) the price went down to 20b.

So let's hope this measure applies equally, if at all.

I think some of the farang pricing is over the top, but i find this example acceptable.

The retailer is within his rights to offer a price, either ticketed or not, and you can accept, make a counter offer, or reject that price. This applies in any retail store you enter, from markets to Siam Paragon.

I buy pineapple from street vendors every week and, yes, 20 baht is the going rate and I have never been asked for more.

I think it helps if you can discuss it Thai style, without raising the voice. For example:

Me: sawasdee krap, sapalot tao rai krab?

Vendor: see sip baht krab

Me: Jing lor? peng gern bpai krab mai ao krab kob khun krab (with a smile )

1. The people - the Thai people I know are friendly, humble and respectful (as I am to them).

2. The weather - sure, a little too hot at times but preferable to the cold winters in OZ.

3. The food - the delightful flavours and aromas of Thai cuisine, in my opinion, the best in the world.

4. The culture - the colours, the costumes, the temples and what I call the "inner peace" of the people.

5. The smiles - I don't know of any other big city that has the abundance of smiles that Bangkok has.

6. The freedom - the ability to life my life as I want, with little or no bureaucratic nonsense.

7. The lifestyle - sabai sabai, jai yen yen

8. The affordability - food, utilities, public transport so much cheaper here for me.

9. Oh, and of course.....It's not OZ!

Sure there are negatives.....but my glass is always half full! On the rare occasions I begin to feel a little down, I think of the alternative and that simply puts a smile on my face and brightens my day.

As it has always been...a thorough disgrace which goes all the way to the top of the crooked authorities that manage Phuket.........

Soon the beach vendors and umbrella mafia will be back too!....

I will never go back there..........!!

I've never been there and have no intentions of going!

Ditto!.....definitely not on my bucket list. Same goes for Pattaya and Koh Tao.

After dropping me off at my condo, a motorcy taxi has 2 options:

1) Go by the rules, the right way along major congested roads until legal to u-turn, or take a long detour. Arrive back at rank approx. 20min. later.

2) Go the wrong way up the road, or on the footpath. Arrive back at rank approx. 3min. later.

Solution: For dual carriage-ways, provide more regular cut-aways for motorcy only to do u-turn.

I don't agree with them riding on the footpaths.......but, in a way, I understand

I have a non-O visa from PP which expires on 16th December. I intend to apply for an extension based on retirement prior to expiry. My financial requirements were finalised on 7th Oct. The 60 day "seasoning" of my funds allows me to apply from 8th Dec. This leaves less than 15 days prior to expiry. Does this mean I have to get a 30 day extension before I can apply for retirement (long-stay)?

For an extension of stay application there is no minimum time to apply. You can do it on the date your permit to stay ends if you want to.

The 15 days is only for applying for a non immigrant visa when you a visa exempt or tourist visa.

Excellent!!

Thanks once again Ubonjoe.

I have a non-O visa from PP which expires on 16th December. I intend to apply for an extension based on retirement prior to expiry. My financial requirements were finalised on 7th Oct. The 60 day "seasoning" of my funds allows me to apply from 8th Dec. This leaves less than 15 days prior to expiry. Does this mean I have to get a 30 day extension before I can apply for retirement (long-stay)?

I'm speechless

As far as I'm aware, you only need a copy of your lease/ownership to apply for a visa, not a Certificate of residence.

No such thing as impossible, just difficult.

Can anyone really distinguish between klai (near) and klai (far)?

Yes you can 2 different tones far away gai is a down tone ...close by glai is an up tone. ..;-)

Yes, the difference is in the tone of the word. Far - Glai ( middle or flat tone) Near - Glai (falling tone)

Most of the time you can simplify by using the flat tone for both by saying "mai glai" (not far).

But remember that "mai" in this case is falling tone. "Mai" low tone means "new".

So nice to hear stories of honest people - for a change!

The driver knows the trip is fully registered and that the passenger has the slip given at the booth.

So he would have been concerned more with losing his super-lucrative airport pitch, rather than being honest.

Actually, if questioned he could quite easily have said he didn't see the bag, and a later customer he picked up must have taken it.

Good honest work and, hopefully, a sizable reward.

Quite frankly, I don't give a rat's toss bag about the DNA....too many opportunities to change/soil/plant or whatever.

The British cops have been very quiet...I wonder what they're up to?

Be patient, they are not here for a holiday. My gut feel tells me that there is much afoot, but being professional they won't give us half stories or false hopes, unlike others throughout this saga.

I don't think we'll have long to wait.

i have a great condo at 14k a month and the water and electricity as so cheap, I use aircon a lot and my biggest bill has been 800bt and my water has been 20bt a month in a new condo- these are the best prices i have ever had in thailand

Hi globalmedia.

20 baht/ month for water...are you sure?

I have lived in 2 condos and for both i average about 100 baht/month. Pay 14k a month rent too, new condo, 2 a/c's, washing machine, and in my 8 months here my elect. bill has been no higher than 500 baht.

Still waiting for them to come and tell me they have been reading the meter wrong!

In my opinion, Angkor Wat is a "must see" for historical sites.

I purchased a 2-day pass and still didn't see everything. But the main Angkor Wat temple is a must, and be sure to view the amazing "bas reliefs" (carvings) on all four walls, describing the inhabitants lives, wars, and beliefs.

Just when I thought I had heard it all.........

Never been to Phuket, now one more reason to never go!

I was looking at a list of members in a previous thread, but didn't see the land of "oz" included.

Anybody know?

"He wouldn't give exact details on how many missions had involved bombing targets or how many militants were killed for fear of feeding the aggressive propaganda campaign of IS."

....and how many innocent women and children killed?

I often wait outside Central Rama 9 for the van to take me to my condo. At the taxi rank I often see taxis refuse numerous people (Thais, farangs, Very old, disabled, etc, doesn't really matter who). But mainly Thai.

I have seen several taxis there refuse 10 or more customers in a row. The person says where he wants to go, the driver shakes his head and thumbs towards the taxi behind him. This normally happens at peak hour when demand exceeds supply, and the drivers feel they can be selective.

If they are so discriminatory regarding a fare, in my mind they shouldn't be allowed to park at a rank at all. They should look for flag downs and, if they are unable to take the customer to their destination due to a shift change, this would be acceptable. I was a taxi owner/operator in Oz for a while and what they need is regulatory officials to monitor the industry. I am sure the collection of fines would more than cover their wages, and we would soon have a more efficient taxi service.