VTR1000

VTR1000, is it true about the tinted windows? Will they flat out refuse entry or is it case-by-case (aka money)?

Yes. I went down and had my passport etc stamped into Malaysia. Got the insurance but when the officer in the Ministry of Transport office saw the windows on my car, I was told no way could I go in. They are dark though, 80% but I've previously been into Malaysia in other vehicles, one of which had 'mirror' windows with no problems at all. I did notice that some Thai vehicles were entering Malaysia with all windows down so maybe they know something I don't. Having said that, it might just have been a bad day. In a way I was pleased though because I was taking a couple down to Butterworth and that saved me the journey. Just stuck them into a taxi and I went home .... after a quick stop at the duty free.

Hi all, what is the best transportation method for Had Yai to Koh Pha Ngan? I heard there are mini vans. I will be taking the bus from Malaysia Kuala Lumpur to Had Yai and then after that what? Thanks.

There are big air conditioned buses from Hadyai to Donsak from where you can get a ferry to Koh Phangngan. Also mini buses from Hadyai to Nakhonsrithammarat, change and get another minibus to Donsak and then the ferry. There might even be a direct minibus but I'm not sure on that one.

Hope that helps.

Also note that the Malaysian authorities do not like tinted windows. Anything over 40% and they can refuse entry.

Went last Sunday. Yes the ferries are still running and are the same as your picture. Cost is now 850 baht and they more or less run every hour. I caught the 10.30 am ferry and return on the 11.20 ferry. Great visa run no problems.

Thanks for that Mike. It was only ฿500 last time I went and that was over 5 years ago. Anyway, glad to hear you enjoyed your trip. You didn't take any pictures of the ferries did you?

These boats were originally ploughing up and down the River Thames in London and someone in the UK is doing some research on them. As I'm over here I said I'd try and help.

Specifically looking for any pictures really, close ups and internal shots also welcomed.

Thanks

VTR1000

I on the lookout for some help regarding the Andaman Club ferry boats running out of Ranong. I haven't been to the Andaman Club for over 5 years and the ferries used then looked like this:

I'd just like to ask, if you've been recently or are going soon, are these ferries still running? If so, does anyone have any photos or other info which they wouldn't mind sharing?

Thanks in advance.

I have just found out im pregnant with my 2nd child.

at the mo i live near NST,are there any decent english speaking hospitals in NST?

anyone have any experience with these hospitals,anti-natal ,birth ect?

thanks for any info

i may move back to bkk if not and go back to Vejthani

Nakarin and the Military hospitals seem to be popular with the farang community here for child births. Had friends who have had babies at both and no complaints, one only 2 months ago.

Hi all

Although I have driven from Bangkok to Chumphon many many times, I am not sure of the best route from Chumphon to Phuket.

Basically, I can see 2 main ways:

1. From Chumphon, down the main 41 route (to Hat Yai), and then turn right at Phunpin/Suratthani junction and through Phanom on the 401.

2. From Chumphon, go along the windy route 4 via Ranong.

Any experiences?

Thanks.

Big A

PS This has also been posted in the Phuket Forum as well.

I've done both, but not recently. It probably depends on current road conditions. Surat to Phangnga goes past Khao Sok NP if that's a consideration. I think if I were going to do a drive right now, I would go via Ranong.

Ranong is a beautiful drive but it is way way longer, even more so if it is raining. Go straight down the 41 highway til just after Phunpin and then take the road signposted Krabi (I think it is 4011 but can't remember). Long, straight and quiet ... follow it all the way to the end (you actually come out west of Krabi). You have to go left but then take the first U-turn onto Thaput, turn left there and follow all the way to Phangnga and Phuket.

ps: There is a short cut but it's hard to describe if you're not familiar with the area.

how many hours of driving instruction are recommended? cost and recommendation for schools?

If she's a woman, around 15 years might see her at an acceptable stage ... that's doubtful too.

I recently heard a 'rumour' that vehicle taxes were increasing and quite considerably too. These are the figures ...

Cars under 600 cc pay 0.5 baht a cc, cars from 601 cc to 1799 cc pay 1.5 baht a cc, cars from 1800 cc to 2399 cc will pay 4 baht a cc, cars from 2400 cc to 2999 cc will pay 6 baht a cc, cars over 3000 cc will pay 12 baht a cc.

I have a 3.0L pickup which is actually 2998cc. Present tax is around 8k/year. Under this new scheme, it would go up to around18k/year.

Is this just a rumour or has anybody else heard anything?

I have had my old Ford Ranger since December 2001 and it has about 170,... km on it and I would go for the wildtrak out of the two because I like the Ford and I personally think that the Mitsubishi is about the ugliest pickup around, but that is me.

Totally agree

Both ugly in my eyes. Toyota all the way. Tops for looks, reliability and resale value.

Just my humble opinion.

Whenever I go back to the homeland, it's always on a return ticket back to BKK. I have 2 teachers coming from the States soon and they both have one way tickets. They already have letters confirming their positions etc.

Will they have any problems?

Thnx

Not quite the deep south, but I hope someone in this forum might offer some advice. I had planned to fly to Langkawi at Songkran, but Air Asia cancelled the flight last November.

I'm thinking of flying from BKK to Trang, and then going to Satun and getting the ferry. OR, would it be easier to fly to Had Yai and then go to Satun.

Any advice welcome.

G

hmmmmm..... dont know why u opened this Langkawi thing again in a new topic, but for sure its MUCH QUICKER and CHEAPER to fly To Had Yai.

Trang is only being served by the - nowadays quite expensive - NOKAIR, whereas Hat Yai can be reached by THAI, AirAsia, NOK and 1-2-GO. and competition keeps prices lower. Thai AirAsia often has 399++ deals if u book in advance. 1-2-GO has super-cheapo deals as well at the moment.

from Hat Yai airport, you can take a mini-Bus to downtown (80 Baht if I remember that right). this airport-Mini-Bus will pass the Hat-Yai-Mini-Bus terminal after less than 10 minutes ride, from where there are frequent departures not only to SATUN TOWN, but continuing to Thammalang Pier as well.

Trang is more far away and the Mini-Bus departures are less frequent.

Thanks for the advice Thailiban. Much appreciated.

I opened it anew because the previous thread was in the airport forum, whereas this is basically also asking about land transport. I didn't think the title/location of the other thread would get me the answer I needed.

..... or you could go BKK - Hatyai - Kuala Polis (Malaysia). Kuala Polis is closer to Hatyai than the ferry pier in Satun. From there, ferry ride straight to Langkawi.

that doesnt make much sense, the ferry goes "straight to Langkawi" from Satun as well. And considering the time lost at the land-border, there is nothing saved going to Kuala Perlis (not POLIS, POLIS means "police" in Malay). And I doubt that there is a direct Mini-Bus going from the Hat-Yai MiniBus-station to Kuala Perlis, whereas Busses to Satun and further to Thammalang Pier leave every 30-45 minutes or so and are cheap.

Just make sure u arrive in HatYai early enough to catch the last ferry to Langkawi from Satun.

From TRANG you only have one option, thats the daily NOK flight at 8.30 , which can be quite expensive. right now I checked a weekday-flight and it was 1700++, a total of around 2.600 baht (though at other days, it might be around 1.800 if you are lucky). for that price (2.600) you can already get a discounted online-ticket from THAI INTERNATIONAL to Hat Yai.

oh, and dont change THAI BAHT to RINGGIT at the Satun or Langkawi ferry-stations. they give horrible rates. some moneychangers at the tourism areas give much better rates.

if you dont have ringgit already, change ur Baht to Dollar or Euro at the airport b4 leaving, and then back to Ringgit once u arrived in Malaysia. may save you around 5-10% of your money's value....

Well, I always drive and that's the way I go. Going through the border takes all of about three minutes, and then it's a short drive to Kuala Polis. Park the car up, jump on the ferry and next thing, I'm on the island. Quicker than going via Satun for me.

Not quite the deep south, but I hope someone in this forum might offer some advice. I had planned to fly to Langkawi at Songkran, but Air Asia cancelled the flight last November.

I'm thinking of flying from BKK to Trang, and then going to Satun and getting the ferry. OR, would it be easier to fly to Had Yai and then go to Satun.

Any advice welcome.

G

hmmmmm..... dont know why u opened this Langkawi thing again in a new topic, but for sure its MUCH QUICKER and CHEAPER to fly To Had Yai.

Trang is only being served by the - nowadays quite expensive - NOKAIR, whereas Hat Yai can be reached by THAI, AirAsia, NOK and 1-2-GO. and competition keeps prices lower. Thai AirAsia often has 399++ deals if u book in advance. 1-2-GO has super-cheapo deals as well at the moment.

from Hat Yai airport, you can take a mini-Bus to downtown (80 Baht if I remember that right). this airport-Mini-Bus will pass the Hat-Yai-Mini-Bus terminal after less than 10 minutes ride, from where there are frequent departures not only to SATUN TOWN, but continuing to Thammalang Pier as well.

Trang is more far away and the Mini-Bus departures are less frequent.

Thanks for the advice Thailiban. Much appreciated.

I opened it anew because the previous thread was in the airport forum, whereas this is basically also asking about land transport. I didn't think the title/location of the other thread would get me the answer I needed.

..... or you could go BKK - Hatyai - Kuala Polis (Malaysia). Kuala Polis is closer to Hatyai than the ferry pier in Satun. From there, ferry ride straight to Langkawi.

I have a Non Imm-O multi entry, I went to Vietnam and when I returned The immigration officer stamped my passport giving me another 90 days from the date of my return. Is this normal or should I have been given no more time than the original 90 days??

Thanks, mike

If it's multi entry and you haven't had it extended, you'll only get the 90 days.

.... since snowflake is dead from the neck up he thinks differently from us semi-normal people.

I'm hungry, time to fill my belly with some pizza company...

Anyone remember Cheech & Chong's 'Up in smoke'?

Jeez, you're crackin' up as well!

You're crackin' up man!

Is there anywhere to buy larger toys in the Suratthani/Nakhon area? We want to pick up some birthday toys, but can't think of anywhere else in Suratthani apart from Saha Thai, Big C and Lotus. Any ideas anyone?

ETA: please move to the Nakhon/Surat forums!!

Pattaya!

... and just why would anyone want to go to that dump of a town?

Anyway, answering the OP - you've pretty much named most places. You could also try Robinson's but the choice of toys in Thailand as a whole, is fairly limited.

Just ranting on about nothing... what about you?

How are you these days?

What are you up too?

When you are happy or bored, what do you do then???

Is your favourite past time to go to the pub and drink or go to the gym to exercise?

It might be the famous PS3 bug or the newest game on your PC..

I like to go and play golf with my friends (Not many of them these days as I seem to be pushing them away).

What about you?

????

Beers are on me at rock 99 at 7pm.

cheers

Ian

How come I spent B600 then? Beers is a plural word ain't it?!

Showing the Scot in ya!

Beers are on me !! yes, that is PLURAL!! If i remember there were 15 people there, and 15 bottles of beer will be PLURAL !!

Yes, i should have bought you the normal 12 bottles BUT the hospital bills are adding up at the moment.

Only messing with ya Tatler!

Beers are on me at rock 99 at 7pm.

cheers

Ian

How come I spent B600 then? Beers is a plural word ain't it?!

Showing the Scot in ya!

Congrats Tatler.

Another addition to a lovely family.

FRAZER

Having no sleep is something I can relate too .... hence I'll be out a little earlier than you. I'll just give you the tab when you arrive!

:D

This rumour has been doing the rounds for years. I'll believe it when I see it.

Why do you want to take malaria pills? You can get malaria without the pills you know...

PS... Fancy some Viagra???